Honda Cb 500 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Cb 500 S car check
Is the Honda Cb 500 S reliable? We analysed 1,278 real MOT tests across 206 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Cb 500 S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Cb 500 S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cb 500 S.
Honda Cb 500 S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Cb 500 S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Cb 500 S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Cb 500 S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Cb 500 S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Cb 500 S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Cb 500 S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Cb 500 S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Cb 500 S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cb 500 S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 89 | 78.7% | 9,669 | 19,446 | 37,318 |
| 2001 | 182 | 83.0% | 10,448 | 21,265 | 30,676 |
| 2000 | 159 | 82.4% | 12,668 | 23,298 | 36,462 |
| 1999 | 364 | 80.2% | 12,646 | 22,279 | 35,936 |
| 1998 | 294 | 84.7% | 17,144 | 23,712 | 35,921 |
How Long Does a Honda Cb 500 S Last?
Based on 206 Honda Cb 500 S vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Cb 500 S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cb 500 S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cb 500 S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.7% MOT pass rate from 294 tests
78.7% MOT pass rate from 89 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Cb 500 S is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.7% across 294 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.7% — 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 500 S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Cb 500 S THIS CAR | 83.6% | 1,278 | 23,298 mi | 28 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 |
| Yamaha Tzr 50 | 65.5% | 1,410 | 9,635 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cb 500 S outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Cb 500 S you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda Cb 500 SShould you buy a used Honda Cb 500 S?
The Honda Cb 500 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.6% across 1,278 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 500 S are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (29 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (18), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (18). 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.
A typical Honda Cb 500 S owner drives around 878 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 500 S models stay on UK roads for around 28 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.