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Honda Cbr400 (1988)

276 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.1% first-time pass rate

1988 Honda Cbr400

CarHunch analysed 276 real MOT records for the 1988 Honda Cbr400. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1988 Honda CBR400 passes its MOT just below the UK average at 78.1%, and while dangerous defects show up in 17% of examples—a reasonable level for a 36-year-old bike—most will get through without major safety issues. The median mileage of 37,184 is modest for the age, suggesting many surviving examples are either well-preserved or low-use machines rather than hard-ridden commuters.

Owners face an average of 1.54 failures and 4.3 advisories per test, indicating regular maintenance demands but nothing catastrophic. If you're considering one, budget for steady upkeep on wear items and electrics, and always have a pre-purchase inspection done by someone who knows older Japanese bikes—a carhunch score of 50 reflects a solid but genuinely aging machine.

Average reliability In line with UK average
78.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
37,184
typical mileage
27,341–50,490 middle half
17%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.54
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1988 Honda Cbr400

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 Cbr400

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying →

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Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Honda Cbr400 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.

27,341
low mileage
37,184
typical
50,490
high mileage

Half of all 1988 Honda Cbr400 vehicles fall between 27,341 and 50,490 miles.

1988 Honda Cbr400 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 26 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (38% of peak).

68 26 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

6.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.54
Avg failures per vehicle
4.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 Honda Cbr400

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 29.6%
    Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 28.6%
    Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 26.2%
    Exhaust noisy
  • 23.1%
    Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort
  • 18%
    Rear reflector on motorcycle missing
  • 14.6%
    Drive chain slightly loose
  • 12.2%
    Drive chain worn but not considered excessive
  • 12.2%
    Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda Cbr400?

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

UK

Other model years — Honda Cbr400:

1989 1990 1991