The Honda CB650R, a popular motorcycle known for its distinctive neo-retro styling and powerful performance, was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the period under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This investigation shed light on widespread mis-selling practices in the motor finance industry, affecting millions of consumers like those who financed their Honda CB650Rs.
## How the Honda CB650R was Typically Financed
The Honda CB650R was often financed through Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) agreements. These financing options typically involved loan amounts ranging from £5,000 to £15,000 with terms of 36 to 48 months. Common lenders for the Honda CB650R included
Black Horse,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Moneybarn.
PCP agreements often featured a balloon payment at the end of the term, which could be significant if the borrower did not have sufficient funds or was unaware of this requirement. This balloon payment is an upfront estimate of what you would pay to own the motorcycle outright at the end of your finance agreement.
## The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a full investigation into motor finance agreements, focusing on
discretionary commission arrangements that benefited lenders and dealerships but often led to unfair treatment of consumers. These arrangements allowed dealers and lenders to receive additional payments based on the type of finance chosen by customers, such as PCP or HP.
According to the FCA estimate, 12.1 million eligible agreements were affected during this period (FCA estimate). The total mis-selling involved £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) in overcharged amounts (FCA estimate) (FCA, March 2026).
## How to Check Your Agreement Look for any mention of discretionary commissions or additional payments that were made on top of standard interest rates. The relevant dates are between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.
One key indicator to look out for is the term "DCA" (Discretionary Commission Agreement). This term indicates that your lender may have received additional payments based on the type of finance agreement you chose. If you find this terminology or any other indications of discretionary commissions, it's important to contact your lender directly to discuss potential mis-selling issues.
## How to
Complain Directly to Your Lender for Free
If you suspect that your Honda CB650R finance agreement was affected by the FCA motor finance investigation, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders for the Honda CB650R include Black Horse, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Moneybarn.
Each lender has its own process for handling complaints, but generally, you should follow these steps:
1.
Review Your Agreement: Carefully examine your finance agreement to identify any discrepancies or signs of mis-selling.
2.
Contact the Lender: Reach out directly to your lender via phone, email, or their official complaint procedure outlined on their website.
3.
Provide Documentation: Gather and submit relevant documents such as loan agreements, payment records, and any correspondence with your lender.
It's important to remember that you do not need a claims management company to handle your complaint. You can address the issue directly with your lender for free, ensuring transparency and control over the process.
## Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Office of National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
-
FOS (
Financial Ombudsman Service)
For further information on motor finance mis-selling and
how to complain effectively, visit the MLJ.org.uk website at mlj.org.uk.
Based on 7,701 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Honda Cb has a pass rate of 94.4%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Cb performs well in MOT testing.
The Cb pass rate is better than the overall Honda average of 82.7%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 15,913 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 94.4%
- MOT failure rate: 5.6%
- Tests analysed: 7,701 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 15,913 miles
- Honda average pass rate: 82.7%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.