Honda C90mg (1989)
1989 Honda C90mg
CarHunch analysed 762 real MOT records for the 1989 Honda C90mg. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1989 Honda C90MG has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 5%, devastatingly far below the UK average of 80%, which signals serious structural issues with this cohort. Fewer than 1% of these vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, but the fundamentally poor pass rate is the real concern for any buyer.
These are genuinely old machines with a median mileage of 21,271 miles, suggesting many have been stored or lightly used rather than driven regularly—yet they still fail MOT at an exceptional rate. The negligible failure count (0.03 per vehicle) and minimal advisories (0.1 per vehicle) suggest the testing itself may be uncovering fundamental problems rather than wear-and-tear issues, so treat any example as requiring a full pre-purchase inspection by someone familiar with classic motorcycles.
What to check before buying a 1989 Honda C90mg
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Honda C90mg
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 753 | 4.1% | 0.03 |
| Other (1%) | 7 | 97.1% | 0.14 |
| Diesel (0%) | 2 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1989 Honda C90mg vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1989 Honda C90mg vehicles fall between 14,714 and 24,578 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Honda C90mg
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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10.6%
Wheel alignment slightly misaligned.
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10.6%
Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect
-
10.6%
Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm
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9.1%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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9.1%
Exhaust noisy
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9.1%
Rear Motorcycle structure slightly corroded
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7.6%
Front Front suspension assembly has excessive free play in the pivot bearings.
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7.6%
Rear Motorcycle structure excessively corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Honda C90mg?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.