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E749 BAU

1988 Honda VT500

Black Petrol 490cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Jul 2027
Tests15 (12 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

64,466 mi
Last recorded64,466 miles
Recorded on7 Jul 2026
Typical for 1988 Honda VT50039,983 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Honda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationE749 BAU
MakeHonda
ModelVT500
Year1988
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine490cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

12 pass 3 fail
Pass 7 Jul 2026 64,466 miles
Fail 3 Jul 2026 64,460 miles

Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 7 Mar 2025 64,444 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2024 64,007 miles

Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported front brake flexi requires securing to front mudguard (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Fail 13 Mar 2024 64,005 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases hole in silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Front Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported front brake flexi requires securing to front mudguard (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Pass 16 Feb 2023 63,980 miles
Pass 20 Nov 2021 63,682 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2015 63,062 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2014 62,230 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2014 62,202 miles

Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Stop lamp missing (1.2.1a)

Pass 31 Aug 2012 61,523 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2011 59,875 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2010 58,852 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2007 58,598 miles

Front propshaft joint has slight wear

Pass 13 Sep 2005 58,268 miles

How Reliable is the Honda VT500?

Based on 5,525 MOT tests across 821 vehicles.

81.3%
Pass Rate
431
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
821
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 133
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 65
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 43
Headlamp aim too high 39
Motorcycle structure excessively corroded 37
Full Honda VT500 reliability report

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E749 BAU is a 1988 Honda VT500 in Black with a 490cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1988 Honda VT500 models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.8% with a typical mileage of 39,983 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Honda VT500 fails its MOT is shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, accounting for 133 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E749 BAU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Honda VT500 typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 38 years old, this Honda VT500 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E749 BAU?

You can check the full history of E749 BAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E749 BAU registered?

E749 BAU is a 1988 Honda VT500, first registered on 26 February 1988.

Is E749 BAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for E749 BAU shows 15 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E749 BAU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on E749 BAU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.