Honda CB500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CB500 car check
Is the Honda CB500 reliable? We analysed 77,271 real MOT tests across 7,190 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CB500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CB500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB500.
Honda CB500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CB500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CB500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CB500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CB500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CB500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CB500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CB500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CB500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 65 | 93.8% | 5,852 | 11,795 | 18,944 |
| 2017 | 122 | 92.6% | 7,108 | 13,469 | 23,341 |
| 2016 | 239 | 89.5% | 8,156 | 14,501 | 22,200 |
| 2015 | 201 | 89.1% | 7,928 | 13,971 | 19,401 |
| 2014 | 232 | 92.7% | 8,070 | 14,227 | 24,563 |
| 2008 | 65 | 84.6% | 7,777 | 14,813 | 41,304 |
| 2007 | 77 | 89.6% | 5,288 | 12,840 | 26,584 |
| 2006 | 84 | 88.1% | 7,509 | 27,692 | 43,561 |
| 2003 | 5,744 | 84.1% | 12,172 | 21,724 | 35,968 |
| 2002 | 8,081 | 83.4% | 14,189 | 24,569 | 38,627 |
| 2001 | 8,268 | 83.1% | 13,982 | 25,233 | 40,254 |
| 2000 | 8,187 | 82.2% | 16,838 | 26,946 | 40,308 |
| 1999 | 11,022 | 82.6% | 16,730 | 27,908 | 42,421 |
| 1998 | 8,870 | 81.5% | 18,804 | 29,476 | 43,577 |
| 1997 | 7,989 | 81.0% | 17,671 | 30,026 | 44,881 |
| 1996 | 5,186 | 82.1% | 22,015 | 33,174 | 48,392 |
| 1995 | 5,213 | 81.9% | 22,689 | 35,004 | 50,352 |
| 1994 | 4,943 | 81.5% | 23,026 | 34,555 | 49,653 |
| 1993 | 524 | 83.4% | 24,070 | 41,208 | 58,788 |
| 1978 | 98 | 88.8% | 15,679 | 20,313 | 29,632 |
How Long Does a Honda CB500 Last?
Based on 7,190 Honda CB500 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CB500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB500 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 CB500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.8% MOT pass rate from 65 tests
81.0% MOT pass rate from 7,989 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CB500 is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.8% across 65 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CB500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB500 THIS CAR | 82.6% | 77,271 | 28,226 mi | 32 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 F Series | 88% | 92,321 | 18,043 mi | 26 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CB500 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 CB500Should you buy a used Honda CB500?
The Honda CB500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% across 77,271 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 CB500 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (1,526 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1,227), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (1,110). 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 CB500 owner drives around 1,106 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 CB500 models stay on UK roads for around 32 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.