Honda Cbr 600 F (1998)

829 real MOT outcomes analysed • 30.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Cbr 600 F

CarHunch analysed 829 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Cbr 600 F. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 1998 Honda CBR 600 F has a first-time pass rate of just 30.3%, less than half the UK average of 80%, which means most examples on the road need work before they'll pass MOT. The good news is that only 3% have ever shown dangerous defects, so safety-critical failures aren't the main issue here.

At 26 years old, these bikes are averaging 23,494 miles—a reasonable figure suggesting many have been used sparingly or stored—but the real story is that they're failing on fixable items rather than catastrophic problems. The average bike racks up 0.27 failures and 1.0 advisories per test, typically pointing to wear on brakes, lighting, and bodywork rather than engine trouble, so factor in servicing costs before purchase but don't expect structural nightmares.

Below average reliability 49.7% below UK average
30.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
21,596
typical mileage
15,541–29,665 middle half
3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.27
avg MOT failures per car
over 2.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Honda Cbr 600 F

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 Cbr 600 F

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 (94%) 783 26.4% 0.28
Other (6%) 46 96.2% 0.09

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Cbr 600 F 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.

15,541
low mileage
21,596
typical
29,665
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Cbr 600 F vehicles fall between 15,541 and 29,665 miles.

1998 Honda Cbr 600 F — Still on the Road

45 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% of the peak remain.

49 45 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.27
Avg failures per vehicle
1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Honda Cbr 600 F?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Honda Cbr 600 F:

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002