Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Honda Cb?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Honda Cb?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Honda Cb?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2018 Honda Cb reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,221 vehicles, the 2018 Honda Cb has a first-time MOT pass rate of 94.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Honda Cb?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Honda Cb are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (29.9% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (29.7% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Honda Cb?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Honda Cb (2018)

2,221 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94.3% first-time pass rate

2018 Honda Cb

CarHunch analysed 2,221 real MOT records for the 2018 Honda Cb. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Honda CB passes its MOT first time at 89.6%, well above the UK average of 80%, which signals strong baseline reliability for the model. Dangerous defects are uncommon at 8.6%, so safety concerns are not a major red flag for this cohort.

These bikes are running low mileage relative to age—a median of just 7,458 miles—which partly explains the strong pass rate and suggests many owners treat them as occasional-use machines rather than daily commuters. With an average of 0.31 failures and 1.5 advisories per vehicle, wear-and-tear issues are minor; if you're buying one, prioritise a pre-purchase inspection focused on brake fluid condition and chain tension, as these are common early maintenance points on small-capacity Honda bikes.

The 2018 Honda Cb passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (94.3% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

94.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

8.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.31

Over 4.5 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

Middle half: 4k–12k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 94.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 1.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,221 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 2,221 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 29.9%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 29.7%

Exhaust noisy

Other issues 22.8%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Brake wear 19.2%

Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 17.5%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector missing

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 4.9%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,221 Honda Cb cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Honda Cb

Based on MOT data from 2,221 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,369 Honda Cb vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 31%

3,529

Black 27.5%

3,132

White 18.4%

2,088

Silver 7.7%

870

Blue 5.7%

653

Yellow 3.6%

411

Orange 2.8%

317

Brown 1.2%

133

Grey 0.8%

Green 0.7%

Multi-colour 0.4%

Gold 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Honda Cb vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

7,458

typical

4,253

low mileage

12,144

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Honda Cb vehicles fall between 4,253 and 12,144 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 4,253 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 4,253–12,144 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Honda Cbs sit.

⚠ Over 16,394 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Honda Cb — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Honda Cbs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,671 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.31

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb: All Cb years → Which year to buy? →

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019

Or browse all models: Honda →

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See how the 2018 Honda Cb stacks up against a rival.

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