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Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 car check

Is the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 reliable? We analysed 4,759 real MOT tests across 375 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,759 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.4%
Typical Mileage
16,849mi
Annual Mileage
952mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
21yrs

The Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cb 1300 SA-5.

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.7%
2008
91.2%
2007
91.3%
2006
90.7%
2005

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 37
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 27
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 20
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 13
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 13
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 9

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 20
Valve stem seriously damaged 10
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 9

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
362 mi/yr
Typical
952 mi/yr
Average
1,644 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,044 mi/yr

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 273 92.7% 9,746 16,348 23,879
2007 1,340 91.2% 9,310 16,706 25,744
2006 1,597 91.3% 9,940 16,661 27,067
2005 1,402 90.7% 11,337 17,017 27,453

How Long Does a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Last?

Based on 375 Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.8 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
21 years

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
16,849 mi
75th Percentile
26,664 mi
95th Percentile
45,773 mi
Max Recorded
107,735 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cb 1300 SA-5

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2008

92.7% MOT pass rate from 273 tests

Year to avoid
2005

90.7% MOT pass rate from 1,402 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.7% across 273 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 THIS CAR 91.4% 4,759 16,849 mi 21 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
BMW X5 XDRIVE40D M Sport MHEV Auto 88.3% 4,501 33,788 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Cb 1300 SA-5?

The Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.4% across 4,759 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (37 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (27), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (20). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 owner drives around 952 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 models stay on UK roads for around 21 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 reliable?
Based on 4,759 MOT tests, the Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 has a 91.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 do per year?
The typical Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 does around 952 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 last?
Most Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 models stay on UK roads for around 21 years based on our analysis of 375 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda Cb 1300 SA-5?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Cb 1300 SA-5 is 2008 with a 92.7% pass rate across 273 tests.