Honda Cb900 (1981)
1981 Honda Cb900
CarHunch analysed 319 real MOT records for the 1981 Honda Cb900. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1981 Honda CB900 posts a first-time pass rate of 84.7%, which beats the UK average of 80% and suggests these bikes have held up reasonably well over four decades. The dangerous defect rate sits at a low 7.5%, so safety concerns are minimal for prospective buyers.
The median mileage of 35,253 miles is modest for a 43-year-old machine, indicating many survivors have been cherished rather than thrashed. With an average of 0.76 failures and 2.1 advisories per test, most issues are minor wear items rather than structural problems—before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on fuel system condition and electrical gremlins, which are typical aging points on air-cooled Japanese bikes of this era.
What to check before buying a 1981 Honda Cb900
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 Cb900
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%) | 317 | 84.7% | 0.77 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 50% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1981 Honda Cb900 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.
Half of all 1981 Honda Cb900 vehicles fall between 23,675 and 46,668 miles.
1981 Honda Cb900 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 14 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (19% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1981 Honda Cb900
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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14.5%
Exhaust noisy
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13.8%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.8%
Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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10.7%
Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort
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8.5%
Headlamp aim too high
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7.6%
Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion
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7.5%
Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion
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7.1%
Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1981. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Honda Cb900?
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