Honda

Honda Cbf600 (2005)

905 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.6% first-time pass rate

2005 Honda Cbf600

CarHunch analysed 905 real MOT records for the 2005 Honda Cbf600. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2005 Honda CBF600 passes its MOT first time in 86.6% of cases, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is a solid endorsement of its baseline reliability. However, 22.5% of these bikes have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for a buyer—you should factor in the cost of thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At nearly 20,000 miles median for a 19-year-old bike, these CBF600s have been ridden moderately and look after themselves well. The average 7.5 advisories per vehicle suggests wear items like brakes and tyres need regular attention, which is typical for this age, but the 1.91 failures per vehicle indicates most problems are preventable with decent maintenance—have any used example's service history verified before you commit.

The 2005 Honda Cbf600 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (86.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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
86.6%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
22.5%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
1.91
Over 13 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
20k
Middle half: 11k–30k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 86.6% 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 7.5 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 905 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 905 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 83%
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 44.1%
Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too low
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Brake wear 43.7%
Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 37.6%
Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Steering headbearing has slight free play
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Other issues 15.2%
Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 905 Honda Cbf600 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2005 Honda Cbf600

Based on MOT data from 905 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.5% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,089 Honda Cbf600 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 35%
1,433
Blue 24%
982
Black 20.8%
851
Red 9.5%
388
Grey 4%
163
Yellow 2.6%
108
White 2.6%
108
Green 0.5%
22
Orange 0.4%
18
Gold 0.2%
8
Multi-colour 0.2%
8

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Honda Cbf600 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.

19,812
typical
11,093
low mileage
29,681
high mileage

Half of all 2005 Honda Cbf600 vehicles fall between 11,093 and 29,681 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 11,093 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.
11,093–29,681 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Honda Cbf600s sit.
Over 40,069 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Honda Cbf600 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 48% of 2005 Honda Cbf600s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 312 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (48% of peak).

653 312 2014 2025

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

13
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.91
Avg failures per vehicle
7.5
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Honda Cbf600: All Cbf600 years → Which year to buy? →
2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

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Average reliability — agree?