Honda CB650R
Real ownership data from 2,678 UK CB650R motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common CB650R problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Controls and cables | major | 27.7% |
| Suspension | major | 13.8% |
| Brakes | dangerous | 13% |
| Tyres | dangerous | 4.5% |
| Lights and indicators | dangerous | 4.5% |
| Steering and head bearings | dangerous | 2.7% |
| Brake discs and pads | major | 2.2% |
| Other | dangerous | 2.2% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is fluid leaks.
CB650R mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 246 | 5,866 mi | 1,440 | 87.11% |
| 2022 | 402 | 7,731 mi | 1,496 | 89.29% |
| 2021 | 611 | 7,731 mi | 1,368 | 91.22% |
| 2020 | 514 | 9,218 mi | 1,317 | 89.39% |
| 2019 | 747 | 11,342 mi | 1,478 | 88.56% |
| 2018 | 21 | 8,389 mi | 1,184 | 94.19% |
| 2017 | 23 | 10,341 mi | 1,269 | 92.54% |
| 2016 | 26 | 8,640 mi | 716 | 95.93% |
| 2015 | 29 | 15,883 mi | 1,560 | 90.58% |
| 2014 | 18 | 12,213 mi | 1,172 | 82.2% |
| 1982 | 7 | 16,842 mi | 61 | 70.97% |
| 1981 | 9 | 29,130 mi | 220 | 87.5% |
| 1980 | 5 | 22,033 mi | 304 | 82.61% |
| 1979 | 5 | 29,149 mi | 194 | 85.71% |
CB650R questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Honda CB650R?
Across 2,678 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are controls and cables (27.7% of all recorded faults), suspension (13.8% of all recorded faults), brakes (13% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Honda CB650R?
The median Honda CB650R in the UK has covered 8,997 miles, and typically rides about 1,390 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 4,998 and 14,550 miles.
Is the Honda CB650R reliable?
89.28% of Honda CB650R MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.02 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 2,678 Honda CB650R motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.