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

Honda CB 1000 RA-M motorcycles pass the MOT 95.54% of the time, measured across 493 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.25% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 8.7 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 95.54% 471 of 493

Fixed at the station 3.25% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 6,094 miles

Average age at test 3.51 years old

Engine 998cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Honda CB 1000 RA-M adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and incorrect, 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 (7.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 6,094 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
3-5 years	95.54%		493

Why the Honda CB 1000 RA-M 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	Missing	100%	12
2	Does not conform to the specified requirements	66.7%	4
3	Incorrect	33.3%	2
4	Too high	33.3%	2
5	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	16.7%	1
6	Does not immediately illuminate all main beam headlamps	16.7%	1
7	Has a serious fluid leak	16.7%	1
8	Less than 1.0 mm thick	16.7%	1
9	Markings indicating not for road use or similar wording	16.7%	1
10	Obviously incorrectly positioned	16.7%	1

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	7.5%	37
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3%	15
3	Excessively loose	2.8%	14
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.8%	9
5	Tread not clearly visible	0.6%	3
6	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	0.4%	2
7	Worn to excess	0.4%	2
8	Excessively damaged	0.2%	1
9	Grabbing severely	0.2%	1
10	Has a serious fluid leak	0.2%	1

Honda CB 1000 RA-M for sale

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

Used Honda CB 1000 RA-M 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-M MOT questions

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

95.54% of Honda CB 1000 RA-M MOT tests end in a pass, based on 493 tests in the DVSA dataset.

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

Missing, which appears in 100% 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.