Honda Black Bird MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 99 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 10.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Black Bird MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Black Bird is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 99 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.9% and a failure rate of 10.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Black Bird earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Black Bird presents for MOT with approximately 33,665 miles on the clock. The 1997 manufacture year performs best with a 91.1% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Black Bird is Motorcycle steering and suspension, affecting 5.1% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Motorcycle brakes at 4.0%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling rounds out the top three at 3.0%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Brakes | 6.1% | 6 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 5.1% | 5 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 3.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 2.0% | 2 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.0% | 2 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.0% | 1 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.0% | 1 |
| 8 | Items Not Tested | 1.0% | 1 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.0% | 1 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 1.0% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 33,665 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle brakes | 1.80 | 6.1% | 6 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.50 | 5.1% | 5 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 0.90 | 3.0% | 3 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.60 | 2.0% | 2 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.60 | 2.0% | 2 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.30 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.30 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.30 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.30 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.30 | 1.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Black Bird has 33,665 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Honda Black Bird has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.00% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Honda Black Bird MOT Data
The Honda Black Bird is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 99 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.9% and a failure rate of 10.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Black Bird owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle steering and suspension and motorcycle brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Black Bird is likely to perform.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.1% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 5.1% of MOT failures on the Honda Black Bird. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Motorcycle brakes — 4.0% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 4.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Black Bird. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 3.0% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 3.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Black Bird. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Black Bird?
Based on 99 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Honda Black Bird has an overall pass rate of 89.9% (10.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Black Bird?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Black Bird fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle steering and suspension (5.1%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (4.0%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (3.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Black Bird reliable?
With a 10.1% MOT failure rate, the Black Bird is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Black Bird?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle steering and suspension (5.1%); Motorcycle brakes (4.0%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (3.0%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.