Honda CB500T Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CB500T car check
Is the Honda CB500T reliable? We analysed 559 real MOT tests across 141 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CB500T? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CB500T is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates a binding brake, floor brake test indicates a binding brake and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB500T.
Honda CB500T Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CB500T. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CB500T MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CB500T to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CB500T Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CB500T fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CB500T Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CB500T owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CB500T MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB500T year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 109 | 89.9% | 17,684 | 19,964 | 32,193 |
| 1977 | 62 | 80.6% | 5,092 | 16,468 | 29,831 |
| 1976 | 147 | 83.0% | 20,620 | 25,562 | 33,979 |
| 1975 | 98 | 86.7% | 14,638 | 25,101 | 35,340 |
How Long Does a Honda CB500T Last?
Based on 141 Honda CB500T vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CB500T Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB500T 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 CB500T
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.9% MOT pass rate from 109 tests
80.6% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CB500T is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.9% across 109 tests. The 1977 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CB500T Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB500T THIS CAR | 84.8% | 559 | 24,948 mi | 51 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 |
| Vauxhall Vivaro 2700 Di SWB | 64.6% | 751 | 163,473 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB500T outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CB500T 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 CB500TShould you buy a used Honda CB500T?
The Honda CB500T has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.8% across 559 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 CB500T are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (7 recorded failures), floor brake test indicates a binding brake (5), and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (5). 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 CB500T owner drives around 170 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 CB500T models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.