Honda Cb250 (1997)

269 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.3% first-time pass rate

1997 Honda Cb250

CarHunch analysed 269 real MOT records for the 1997 Honda Cb250. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 16.7% below UK average
63.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
24,575
typical mileage
15,041–34,198 middle half
11.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.35
avg MOT failures per car
over 7.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 Honda Cb250

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 Cb250

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%) 265 62.8% 1.37
Other (1%) 4 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Honda Cb250 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.

15,041
low mileage
24,575
typical
34,198
high mileage

Half of all 1997 Honda Cb250 vehicles fall between 15,041 and 34,198 miles.

1997 Honda Cb250 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 38 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% of peak).

85 38 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

7.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.35
Avg failures per vehicle
3.8
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Honda Cb250

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 43.4%
    Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 26%
    Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 25.3%
    Drive chain slightly loose
  • 18%
    Drive chain worn but not considered excessive
  • 17.6%
    Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn
  • 17.4%
    Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey
  • 15.5%
    Steering headbearing has slight free play
  • 12.5%
    Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda Cb250?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Honda Cb250:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001