Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Honda Cbr600fs?

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 2002 Honda Cbr600fs?

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 2002 Honda Cbr600fs?

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 2002 Honda Cbr600fs reliable?

Based on MOT data from 955 vehicles, the 2002 Honda Cbr600fs has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Honda Cbr600fs?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Honda Cbr600fs are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (65.3% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.9% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (58.5% 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 2002 Honda Cbr600fs?

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 Cbr600fs (2002)

955 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.4% first-time pass rate

2002 Honda Cbr600fs

CarHunch analysed 955 real MOT records for the 2002 Honda Cbr600fs. 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

This 2002 Honda CBR600FS is a notably reliable bike, passing its MOT first time in 86.4% of cases—well above the UK average of 80%. The dangerous defect rate of 17.8% is modest and not a major concern, suggesting the model is fundamentally sound from a safety perspective.

At nearly 18,000 miles on average, these bikes show moderate use for their age, and the 1.85 failures per vehicle indicate they're generally holding up well. With 6.4 advisories per test, you're looking at the typical wear items rather than systemic problems—so budget for regular maintenance items like chain, sprockets, and brake pads when you inspect one, but don't expect hidden structural gremlins.

The 2002 Honda Cbr600fs passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (86.4%) — 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

86.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

17.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.85

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 12k–23k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.4% 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 6.4 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 955 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 955 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 65.3%

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

Exhaust & emissions 58.5%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Brake wear 24.6%

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

Lighting 23.8%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing

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

Other issues 10.3%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 9.4%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy'

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 955 Honda Cbr600fs cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Honda Cbr600fs

Based on MOT data from 955 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.8% 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 2,442 Honda Cbr600fs vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 61%

1,489

White 16.3%

397

Black 6.9%

169

Yellow 6.6%

162

Silver 4.8%

118

Blue 2.2%

Multi-colour 1.5%

Orange 0.5%

Grey 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Honda Cbr600fs 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.

16,827

typical

11,707

low mileage

23,385

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Honda Cbr600fs vehicles fall between 11,707 and 23,385 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,707 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.

✓ 11,707–23,385 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Honda Cbr600fss sit.

⚠ Over 31,569 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Honda Cbr600fs — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 2002 Honda Cbr600fss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 265 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% 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

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.85

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cbr600fs: All Cbr600fs years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2003

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Compare with another model

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Average reliability — agree?