Honda CBF500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CBF500 car check
Is the Honda CBF500 reliable? We analysed 20,608 real MOT tests across 1,723 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CBF500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CBF500 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 CBF500.
Honda CBF500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CBF500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CBF500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CBF500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CBF500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CBF500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CBF500 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda CBF500 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda CBF500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CBF500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CBF500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CBF500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,068 | 84.6% | 10,956 | 23,604 | 41,599 |
| 2007 | 3,011 | 84.5% | 11,253 | 22,774 | 40,626 |
| 2006 | 3,599 | 83.3% | 13,741 | 25,482 | 43,716 |
| 2005 | 6,392 | 83.5% | 11,909 | 22,166 | 37,868 |
| 2004 | 6,451 | 83.3% | 12,180 | 22,059 | 36,827 |
How Long Does a Honda CBF500 Last?
Based on 1,723 Honda CBF500 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CBF500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CBF500 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 CBF500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.6% MOT pass rate from 1,068 tests
83.3% MOT pass rate from 6,451 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CBF500 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.6% across 1,068 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CBF500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CBF500 THIS CAR | 83.6% | 20,608 | 22,808 mi | 22 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 |
| MG C | 82.4% | 8,128 | 31,129 mi | 58 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CBF500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CBF500 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 CBF500Should you buy a used Honda CBF500?
The Honda CBF500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.6% across 20,608 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 CBF500 are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (310 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (217), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (163). 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 CBF500 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 CBF500 owner drives around 1,444 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 CBF500 models stay on UK roads for around 22 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.