Honda CB1300 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CB1300 motorcycles pass the MOT 90.67% of the time, measured across 1,007 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.37% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3.8 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 90.67% 913 of 1,007

Fixed at the station 4.37% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 26,980 miles

Average age at test 19.62 years old

Engine 1,287cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Honda CB1300 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with has a serious fluid leak - it accounts for 30% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and too low, 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 (5.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 26,980 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	92.21%		77
16+ years	90.61%		916

Why the Honda CB1300 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	Has a serious fluid leak	30%	15
2	Missing	18%	9
3	Too low	16%	8
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	14%	7
5	Not working	14%	7
6	Not working on main beam	14%	7
7	Not working on dipped beam	12%	6
8	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	12%	6
9	Contaminated	10%	5
10	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	10%	5

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	5.7%	57
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.2%	52
3	Has a serious fluid leak	4.4%	44
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	4.1%	41
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.8%	38
6	Excessively loose	1.6%	16
7	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.3%	13
8	Seriously damaged	1%	10
9	Tread not clearly visible	0.9%	9
10	Excessively binding	0.8%	8

Honda CB1300 for sale

No Honda CB1300 in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda CB1300 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
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
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

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

Honda CB1300 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CB1300?+

90.67% of Honda CB1300 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,007 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CB1300?+

Has a serious fluid leak, which appears in 30% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda CB1300 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 90.61%, against 92.21% 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.