Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Honda Cb600?

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 Cb600?

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 Cb600?

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 Cb600 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 554 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Cb600 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.5%, 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 Cb600?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Honda Cb600 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.9% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64.6% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (46.9% 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 1998 Honda Cb600?

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 Cb600 (1998)

554 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.5% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Cb600

CarHunch analysed 554 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Cb600. 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 1998 Honda CB600 passes MOT on the first attempt 81.5% of the time, marginally ahead of the UK average of 80%, which suggests broadly reliable engineering—though 19.9% of these bikes have recorded dangerous defects at some point, worth investigating on any used example you consider. Most failures cluster around two common issues per vehicle, and advisories average 6.9, indicating wear-related rather than design problems.

At 25,100 miles average and 23,159 median, these machines have been used steadily over their 26 years, which is appropriate for their age and type. Before purchase, run a full MOT history check on any prospect and pay close attention to the dangerous defect flag and any repetitive failure patterns in the record—this will tell you far more than the headline pass rate.

The 1998 Honda Cb600 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (81.5%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

81.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

19.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.21

Over 11.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

23k

Middle half: 16k–33k

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 6.9 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 554 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 554 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 69.9%

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 46.9%

Exhaust noisy

Lighting 41.9%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Headlamp aim too low · …

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

Brake wear 26.1%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear 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.

Other issues 14.1%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

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 554 Honda Cb600 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Cb600

Based on MOT data from 554 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.9% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,386 Honda Cb600 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.9%

1,356

Black 23.4%

1,026

Yellow 13.6%

598

Red 13.5%

590

Silver 10.4%

458

White 4.3%

190

Orange 2.1%

Grey 0.5%

Green 0.4%

Gold 0.4%

Multi-colour 0.3%

Bronze 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Cb600 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.

23,159

typical

15,656

low mileage

32,673

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Cb600 vehicles fall between 15,656 and 32,673 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,656 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.

✓ 15,656–32,673 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Cb600s sit.

⚠ Over 44,108 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 Cb600 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 1998 Honda Cb600s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 123 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% 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

11.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.21

Avg failures per vehicle

6.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb600: All Cb600 years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Honda Cb600 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?