Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Honda Cbr?

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 1991 Honda Cbr?

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 1991 Honda Cbr?

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 1991 Honda Cbr reliable?

Based on MOT data from 104 vehicles, the 1991 Honda Cbr has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Honda Cbr?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Honda Cbr are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (47.6% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (35.2% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (23.7% 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 1991 Honda Cbr?

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 Cbr (1991)

104 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.8% first-time pass rate

1991 Honda Cbr

CarHunch analysed 104 real MOT records for the 1991 Honda Cbr. 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 Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1991 Honda Cbr — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

82.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

10.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.55

Over 8.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

37k

Middle half: 27k–48k

For context

These stats describe 104 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 104 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 47.6%

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

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 23.7%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Lighting 21.8%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing

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

Brake wear 17.9%

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 9.7%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · 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 8%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 104 Honda Cbr cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Honda Cbr

Based on MOT data from 104 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.6% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	102	82.5%	1.58

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Honda Cbr 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.

36,675

typical

27,049

low mileage

48,359

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Honda Cbr vehicles fall between 27,049 and 48,359 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,049 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.

✓ 27,049–48,359 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Honda Cbrs sit.

⚠ Over 65,284 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1991 Honda Cbr — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 44% of 1991 Honda Cbrs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 18 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (44% of peak).

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

8.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.55

Avg failures per vehicle

5.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1991 Honda Cbr stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?