Honda CB 1000 RA-9 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CB 1000 RA-9 motorcycles pass the MOT 82.71% of the time, measured across 214 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.54% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.2 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 82.71% 177 of 214

Fixed at the station 6.54% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 23,283 miles

Average age at test 16.14 years old

Engine 998cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Honda CB 1000 RA-9 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 43.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and insecure, 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 (16.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 23,283 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
11-15 years	82.05%		78
16+ years	83.09%		136

Why the Honda CB 1000 RA-9 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	43.5%	10
2	Missing	30.4%	7
3	Insecure	21.7%	5
4	Excessively binding	13%	3
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	13%	3
6	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	8.7%	2
7	Excessively loose	8.7%	2
8	Excessively tight	8.7%	2
9	Has a serious fluid leak	8.7%	2
10	Not working on dipped beam	8.7%	2

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	16.8%	36
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	6.1%	13
3	Excessively loose	3.7%	8
4	Has a serious fluid leak	3.7%	8
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.3%	7
6	Excessively binding	2.3%	5
7	Worn to excess	2.3%	5
8	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.9%	4
9	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.4%	3
10	Tread not clearly visible	1.4%	3

Honda CB 1000 RA-9 for sale

No Honda CB 1000 RA-9 in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda CB 1000 RA-9 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
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373

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

Honda CB 1000 RA-9 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CB 1000 RA-9?+

82.71% of Honda CB 1000 RA-9 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 214 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CB 1000 RA-9?+

Not working, which appears in 43.5% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda CB 1000 RA-9 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 83.09%, against 82.05% for examples 11-15 years old.

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.