Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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 1998 Honda Cb250 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 155 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Cb250 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Honda Cb250?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Honda Cb250 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.6% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (35.2% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (31.7% 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 1998 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 (1998)

155 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.9% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Cb250

CarHunch analysed 155 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Cb250. 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 Compare Models

The 1998 Honda CB250 passes its MOT first time in 71.4% of cases, sitting noticeably below the UK average of 80%—a signal that these 26-year-old machines need closer scrutiny before purchase. The good news is that only 12.9% have ever developed a dangerous defect, so major safety issues aren't the norm here.

These bikes are typically running around 25,000 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, but they're averaging 1.59 failures per MOT and 4.3 advisories, suggesting minor wear is catching up with most examples. If you're serious about one, budget for at least one unplanned repair in the next year and have a mechanic who knows older bikes give it a thorough pre-purchase inspection—don't rely on the last MOT pass alone.

We have limited data for the 1998 Honda Cb250 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

83.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

12.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.59

Over 8.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

25k

Middle half: 18k–39k

For context

These stats describe 155 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 155 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 52.6%

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 35.2%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned. · …

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

Brake wear 18.6%

Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · …

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

Other issues 18.6%

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

Exhaust & emissions 14.2%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 155 Honda Cb250 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Cb250

Based on MOT data from 155 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.9% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 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.

25,336

typical

18,196

low mileage

39,437

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Cb250 vehicles fall between 18,196 and 39,437 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 18,196 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.

✓ 18,196–39,437 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Cb250s sit.

⚠ Over 53,239 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Honda Cb250 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 36% of 1998 Honda Cb250s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 21 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (36% of peak).

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

8.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.59

Avg failures per vehicle

4.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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See how the 1998 Honda Cb250 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?