Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Honda Cbf?

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 2012 Honda Cbf?

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 2012 Honda Cbf?

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.

How many 2012 Honda Cbf vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Honda Cbf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 239 vehicles, the 2012 Honda Cbf has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Honda Cbf?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Honda Cbf are: Drive chain slightly loose (43.1% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (41.2% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (36.5% 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 2012 Honda Cbf?

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 Cbf (2012)

239 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.4% first-time pass rate

2012 Honda Cbf

CarHunch analysed 239 real MOT records for the 2012 Honda Cbf. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2012 Honda CBF hits the UK average first-time pass rate at 80.4%, so reliability is broadly in line with other vehicles of this age—but the dangerous defect rate of 34.3% is a genuine concern worth investigating on any specific machine you're looking at. Nearly one-third of this cohort has thrown up serious safety issues at some point, which is well above what you'd want to see.

At just over 11,000 miles average, these bikes show typical use for their age, and the moderate failure count of 1.42 per vehicle suggests wear items rather than structural problems. The high advisory rate of 4.9 per bike indicates routine maintenance—chain, sprockets, fluid checks—will be needed, so budget for upkeep and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake and suspension condition before committing.

We have limited data for the 2012 Honda Cbf — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

80.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

34.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.42

Over 6.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

Middle half: 6k–15k

For context

These stats describe 239 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 239 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 43.1%

Drive chain slightly loose · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned

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

Tyre wear 41.2%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front 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.

Brake wear 36.5%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick · …

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

Other issues 32.3%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose · Handlebar deformed but serviceable

Suspension & steering 13.6%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy · Steering movement slightly 'notchy'

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

Exhaust & emissions 11%

Exhaust noisy

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 239 Honda Cbf cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Honda Cbf

Based on MOT data from 239 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 34.3% 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 7,936 Honda Cbf vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 31.4%

2,491

Red 30.7%

2,436

White 21.5%

1,705

Grey 10.7%

850

Silver 4.5%

359

Blue 0.6%

Yellow 0.4%

Green 0.1%

Orange 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Honda Cbf 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.

9,486

typical

5,737

low mileage

14,898

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Honda Cbf vehicles fall between 5,737 and 14,898 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,737 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.

✓ 5,737–14,898 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Honda Cbfs sit.

⚠ Over 20,112 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Honda Cbf — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 63% of 2012 Honda Cbfs are still active.

88 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 63% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

6.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.42

Avg failures per vehicle

4.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Honda Cbf stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing