Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 127 vehicles, the 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 (2005)

127 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.4% first-time pass rate

2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5

CarHunch analysed 127 real MOT records for the 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2005 Honda CB 1300 SA-5 passes its MOT first time in 87.3% of cases, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, suggesting these big sports bikes are generally well-maintained by their owners. Only 8.7% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low for a 20-year-old motorcycle.

At an average mileage of just over 20,000 miles, these machines are lightly used for their age—typical for collectible sports bikes that spend time in garages. The average of 1.02 failures per test and 4.3 advisories indicates minor wear issues are normal, so budget for routine maintenance when buying, but expect a fundamentally sound bike if it passes its MOT cleanly.

We have limited data for the 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

92.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

8.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.02

Over 11.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

18k

Middle half: 13k–25k

For context

These stats describe 127 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 127 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5

Based on MOT data from 127 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (87%)	111	91.4%	1.16

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

18,496

typical

13,240

low mileage

24,911

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 vehicles fall between 13,240 and 24,911 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 13,240 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 13,240–24,911 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5s sit.

⚠ Over 33,629 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 69% of 2005 Honda Cb 1300 SA 5s are still active.

55 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 69% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.02

Avg failures per vehicle

4.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb 1300 SA 5: All Cb 1300 SA 5 years → Which year to buy? →

2006 2007

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