Honda CB 397-750cc MOT pass rate and common failures
Honda CB 397-750cc motorcycles pass the MOT 89.76% of the time, measured across 5,400 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.8% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
Calculated from DVSA records for Honda CB, 397-750cc.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm - it accounts for 22.7% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working and has a serious fluid leak, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (7.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 19,444 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 | 92.99% | 157 | |
| 6-10 years | 89.73% | 4,702 | |
| 11-15 years | 89.17% | 397 | |
| 16+ years | 88.89% | 144 |
Why the Honda CB 397-750cc 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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 22.7% | 79 | |
| 2 | Not working | 21% | 73 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 17% | 59 | |
| 4 | Missing | 15.2% | 53 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 11.8% | 41 | |
| 6 | Excessively loose | 9.8% | 34 | |
| 7 | Has excessive play | 9.2% | 32 | |
| 8 | Insecure | 8.3% | 29 | |
| 9 | Too high | 8% | 28 | |
| 10 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 7.2% | 25 |
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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 7.6% | 409 | |
| 2 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 5.2% | 279 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 4.5% | 242 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 3.9% | 208 | |
| 5 | Excessively loose | 3.8% | 203 | |
| 6 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.5% | 135 | |
| 7 | Worn to excess | 2.3% | 126 | |
| 8 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 2% | 106 | |
| 9 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.7% | 90 | |
| 10 | Significantly and obviously worn | 1.3% | 72 |
Honda CB 397-750cc for sale
No Honda CB 397-750cc in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc | 4,890 | 80% | 29,308 | |
| Honda CBR600F · 599cc | 4,710 | 85.56% | 30,651 | |
| Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc | 4,510 | 81.62% | 26,019 | |
| Suzuki SV650 · 646cc | 3,834 | 80.99% | 27,644 | |
| Suzuki GSXR600 · 599cc | 3,831 | 81.83% | 25,077 | |
| Royal Enfield INTERCEPTOR INT 650 · 649cc | 3,776 | 90.97% | 5,988 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method