Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1993 Honda Cb250?

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 1993 Honda Cb250?

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 1993 Honda Cb250?

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 1993 Honda Cb250 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 345 vehicles, the 1993 Honda Cb250 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1993 Honda Cb250?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1993 Honda Cb250 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.2% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (26.5% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (22.6% 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 1993 Honda Cb250?

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 Cb250 (1993)

345 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82% first-time pass rate

1993 Honda Cb250

CarHunch analysed 345 real MOT records for the 1993 Honda Cb250. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 345 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1993 Honda Cb250 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (82%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

82%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

8.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.07

Over 6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

29k

Middle half: 20k–44k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.7 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 345 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 345 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 36.2%

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.

Lighting 22.6%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn · Headlamp aim too low · …

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

Brake wear 20.7%

Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit

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

Exhaust & emissions 18.4%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Other issues 18.2%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose

Suspension & steering 10.8%

Steering headbearing has slight free play · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Steering movement slightly '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 1993.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 345 Honda Cb250 cars.

Before you buy a 1993 Honda Cb250

Based on MOT data from 345 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.1% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	338	81.7%	1.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,009 Honda Cb250 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 38.4%

1,540

Black 26.4%

1,057

Blue 14.8%

592

Grey 9.5%

380

Green 3%

119

Silver 2.6%

106

Gold 1.9%

White 1%

Orange 0.9%

Purple 0.7%

Yellow 0.4%

Maroon 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1993 Honda Cb250 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.

29,165

typical

19,961

low mileage

43,900

high mileage

Half of all 1993 Honda Cb250 vehicles fall between 19,961 and 43,900 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,961 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.

✓ 19,961–43,900 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1993 Honda Cb250s sit.

⚠ Over 59,265 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1993 Honda Cb250 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 55% of 1993 Honda Cb250s are still active.

42 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 55% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.07

Avg failures per vehicle

2.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb250: All Cb250 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1993 Honda Cb250 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?