Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Honda Cb900?

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 2002 Honda Cb900?

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 2002 Honda Cb900?

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 2002 Honda Cb900 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 594 vehicles, the 2002 Honda Cb900 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Honda Cb900?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Honda Cb900 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (68.8% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (65.7% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (53.2% 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 2002 Honda Cb900?

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 Cb900 (2002)

594 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.9% first-time pass rate

2002 Honda Cb900

CarHunch analysed 594 real MOT records for the 2002 Honda Cb900. 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

The 2002 Honda CB900 passes its MOT first time in 85.9% of cases, which is a solid 5.9 percentage points above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes are generally well-maintained. However, 19% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is borderline concerning for a buyer—worth a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At an average mileage of 22,364 km for a 22-year-old bike, these machines are running relatively light, which explains the respectable pass rate. The average vehicle racks up 2.2 failures and 7.2 advisories per test, pointing to wear in ancillaries (lights, cables, seals) rather than structural problems; budget for brake fluid, chain, and rubber component refreshes before purchase.

The 2002 Honda Cb900 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (85.9%) — 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

85.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

19%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.2

Over 14.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

19k

Middle half: 12k–28k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 7.2 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 594 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 594 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 68.8%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear 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 53.2%

Exhaust noisy

Lighting 45.7%

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

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

Brake wear 29.2%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn · …

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

Other issues 13.1%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 11.3%

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 594 Honda Cb900 cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Honda Cb900

Based on MOT data from 594 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19% 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 (100%)	593	85.8%	2.2

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,580 Honda Cb900 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.1%

776

Silver 24.3%

628

Black 23.2%

599

Red 14.1%

365

White 2.9%

Grey 1%

Yellow 0.9%

Orange 0.9%

Maroon 0.7%

Purple 0.7%

Multi-colour 0.6%

Brown 0.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Honda Cb900 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.

19,098

typical

12,474

low mileage

28,051

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Honda Cb900 vehicles fall between 12,474 and 28,051 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 12,474 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.

✓ 12,474–28,051 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Honda Cb900s sit.

⚠ Over 37,868 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Honda Cb900 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 54% of 2002 Honda Cb900s are still active.

209 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% of the peak remain.

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

14.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.2

Avg failures per vehicle

7.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb900: All Cb900 years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2002 Honda Cb900 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?