Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1981 Honda Cb750?

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 1981 Honda Cb750?

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 1981 Honda Cb750?

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 1981 Honda Cb750 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 306 vehicles, the 1981 Honda Cb750 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1981 Honda Cb750?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1981 Honda Cb750 are: Exhaust noisy (18.7% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (16.6% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (13.8% 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 1981 Honda Cb750?

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 Cb750 (1981)

306 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.3% first-time pass rate

1981 Honda Cb750

CarHunch analysed 306 real MOT records for the 1981 Honda Cb750. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 306 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1981 Honda Cb750 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (84.3%) — 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

84.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

9.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.84

Over 5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 17k–41k

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 2.2 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 306 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 306 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 18.7%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Tyre wear 16.6%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

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

Lighting 10.1%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · Headlamp aim too low · …

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

Suspension & steering 8.9%

Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · …

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

Brake wear 7.7%

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort

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

Other issues 5.6%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1981.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 306 Honda Cb750 cars.

Before you buy a 1981 Honda Cb750

Based on MOT data from 306 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.5% 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 (99%)	303	84.5%	0.84

Colour Breakdown

Based on 5,154 Honda Cb750 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 30.5%

1,572

Black 24.7%

1,271

Blue 14.7%

756

Gold 5.8%

300

Green 4.7%

242

Orange 4.2%

219

Grey 3.9%

203

Silver 3.6%

188

Maroon 2.2%

114

Brown 2%

103

White 1.8%

Yellow 1.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1981 Honda Cb750 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.

29,755

typical

17,203

low mileage

41,351

high mileage

Half of all 1981 Honda Cb750 vehicles fall between 17,203 and 41,351 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,203 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.

✓ 17,203–41,351 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1981 Honda Cb750s sit.

⚠ Over 55,823 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1981 Honda Cb750 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 16% of 1981 Honda Cb750s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (16% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

0.84

Avg failures per vehicle

2.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb750: All Cb750 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1982 1983 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1981 Honda Cb750 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?