2004 Honda CB900 0.9L Petrol · WP04 PCX

The 2024-03-07 MOT test was passed with a clean record and no defects or advisories recorded, representing the most recent roadworthiness validation point for this Honda CB900. Reviewing the full DVSA history, the vehicle has not failed any test across the recorded period, and the advisory items that have appeared have remained relatively minor in nature. There is a recurring pattern relating to drive chain condition, which was flagged in both 2024 and 2022, alongside front tyre wear advisories in 2022 and 2019, and brake pad monitoring items in 2016 and 2013. The 2024 test also recorded advisories for a noisy exhaust, a sticking throttle, and the fitment of non-standard levers. Overall, the maintenance trend appears broadly stable, with no deteriorating mechanical signals in the most recent examination, suggesting the owner has acted on prior advisories or continued to maintain the consumable items appropriately. With an annual recorded usage of approximately 637 miles per year across an estimated 22 year lifespan, this motorcycle has covered a notably low total distance of 14,005 miles. Such restrained annual mileage is consistent with occasional recreational or fair-weather use rather than regular commuting, and it is plausible that the machine has experienced extended periods of standing between rides. From a mechanical perspective, low mileage is generally favourable for major drivetrain components, but it carries its own risks where standing exposure can accelerate corrosion on ferrous parts, degrade rubber and elastomeric components through age rather than wear, and allow brake discs to surface corrode or caliper pistons to seize. The two to four year gaps between MOT tests further suggest the machine is being used sparingly, which warrants particular attention to time-based degradation rather than purely mileage-based wear. For the prospective buyer, the recurring drive chain advisories should be treated as the primary inspection priority. Chain and sprover wear on a motorcycle of this age progresses even with limited mileage due to lubricant drying out and seals hardening when the machine is stored, so the chain should be physically inspected for tight spots, stiff links, and uneven tension across the run, while the sprockets should be checked for hooked or shark fin tooth profiles. The 2024 advisory regarding throttle operation is a safety-critical item that should be validated on a test ride; the throttle should return crisply to the idle stop without any notchiness, binding, or resistance, particularly when the handlebars are turned from lock to lock, as cable routing issues can manifest under steering input. Given the low annual mileage, the front brake pads flagged close to minimum in 2016 should also be physically inspected through the caliper window for remaining friction material, and the front brake disc checked for any lipping, surface corrosion, or warping that could cause shudder or pulsing under lever application. Beyond the recorded advisories, the age and low usage profile of the machine demand a broader inspection regime focused on calendar-based deterioration. Tyres fitted to a low-mileage motorcycle can perish and crack on the sidewalls and tread blocks long before the tread depth is exhausted, so both tyres should be scrutinised for dry rot, particularly on the sidewalls facing outward where UV exposure is greatest, and for any flat spots from prolonged standing. The rear shock absorber advisory from 2014 noted slightly reduced damping, and although the machine has passed tests since, the rear unit should be evaluated by pressing firmly on the saddle and ensuring it rises smoothly without extended oscillation, while checking the shock body for any oil weeping from the seal. The 12 volt battery should be load tested, as motorcycle batteries of this vintage typically suffer from sulphation and capacity loss through standing, even if the machine starts readily on the day of viewing. All fluid systems, including brake fluid which absorbs moisture over time and should be renewed on a time interval rather than purely by mileage, the coolant, and the engine oil, should be confirmed as recently serviced with documented evidence in the service book, as these items do not always present externally until a failure occurs.