Honda C90 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda C90 motorcycles pass the MOT 88.56% of the time, measured across 2,229 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.29% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.7 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 88.56% 1,974 of 2,229

Fixed at the station 5.29% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 19,928 miles

Average age at test 31.86 years old

Engine 87cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Honda C90 adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with not working - it accounts for 67.9% of failed tests on this model.
Then check insecure and missing, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (2.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 19,928 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
16+ years	88.52%		2,221

Why the Honda C90 fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Not working	67.9%	93
2	Insecure	19%	26
3	Missing	12.4%	17
4	Not working on main beam	10.9%	15
5	Spindle locking device missing	10.9%	15
6	Not working on dipped beam	10.2%	14
7	Too high	8.8%	12
8	Too low	8.8%	12
9	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	7.3%	10
10	Does not conform to the specified requirements	6.6%	9

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	2.1%	46
2	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	2%	45
3	Chain guard missing	1.9%	42
4	Excessively distorted	1.9%	42
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	1.7%	38
6	Inscription illegible	1.3%	28
7	Spoke excessively corroded	1.3%	28
8	Has excessive play	1.2%	26
9	Has excessive wear or free play	1.2%	26
10	Pin or bush excessively worn	1.1%	24

Honda C90 for sale

No Honda C90 in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda C90 Used Honda All Honda Honda MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Honda NSC 108cc · 108-110cc	3,169	74.09%	35,511
Honda NSC 110-M · 110cc	2,419	77.97%	26,701
Honda NSC 110 MPD-K · 108cc	1,178	75.38%	33,437
Peugeot TWEET · 108cc	641	79.1%	14,730
AJS MODENA · 111cc	612	75.98%	4,577
Piaggio FLY · 106cc	608	81.09%	16,050

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Honda C90 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda C90?+

88.56% of Honda C90 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 2,229 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda C90?+

Not working, which appears in 67.9% of failed tests on this model.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.