Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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.

Is the 2018 Honda Cbf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,196 vehicles, the 2018 Honda Cbf has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Honda Cbf?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Honda Cbf are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.3% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (27.4% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (24.6% 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 2018 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 (2018)

1,196 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.4% first-time pass rate

2018 Honda Cbf

CarHunch analysed 1,196 real MOT records for the 2018 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 2018 Honda CBF falls just shy of the UK average with a 78.9% first-time pass rate, suggesting broadly reliable bikes but with slightly higher-than-average failure risk. The 16.6% dangerous defect rate is worth noting—about one in six of these bikes have shown safety issues during MOT, which is higher than ideal for a buyer's peace of mind.

At under 10,200 miles on average for a six-year-old bike, these CBFs are running low mileage, which typically correlates with better condition—yet the 2.7 advisories per vehicle suggest wear is still appearing in expected places like tyres and brakes. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system and suspension, since advisories cluster around these areas.

The 2018 Honda Cbf passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (88.4%) — 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

88.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

16.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.56

Over 4.1 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 5k–14k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.4% 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 2.7 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 1,196 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 1,196 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 32.3%

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.

Lighting 27.4%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector missing

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

Exhaust & emissions 23.7%

Exhaust noisy

Other issues 18.3%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket worn, but not excessively

Suspension & steering 16.6%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy

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

Brake wear 15.5%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,196 Honda Cbf cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Honda Cbf

Based on MOT data from 1,196 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.6% 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 2018 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.

8,647

typical

5,062

low mileage

13,653

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Honda Cbf vehicles fall between 5,062 and 13,653 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,062 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.

✓ 5,062–13,653 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Honda Cbfs sit.

⚠ Over 18,431 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Honda Cbf — Still on the Road

Most 2018 Honda Cbfs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 707 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.56

Avg failures per vehicle

2.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Honda →

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See how the 2018 Honda Cbf stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?