Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Honda Cb 500 S?

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 1998 Honda Cb 500 S?

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 1998 Honda Cb 500 S?

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 1998 Honda Cb 500 S reliable?

Based on MOT data from 125 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Cb 500 S has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.5%, 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 1998 Honda Cb 500 S?

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 500 S (1998)

125 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.5% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Cb 500 S

CarHunch analysed 125 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Cb 500 S. 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

This 1998 Honda CB 500 S has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 29.3%, well below the 80% UK average, which signals serious reliability concerns for a bike now in its mid-20s. With only 4% of these machines ever recording a dangerous defect, the low pass rate isn't about safety-critical failures, but rather accumulated wear across multiple minor and moderate issues.

At a median mileage of 30,859 miles for a 26-year-old motorcycle, these are genuinely low-mileage examples, yet they're still failing MOTs at three times the normal rate—suggesting that age and storage conditions matter more than use here. Expect an average of 0.38 failures and 1.3 advisories per test: a buyer should budget for brake fluid, chain, tyre, and exhaust remedial work before taking one home, and always commission a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist motorcycle technician.

We have limited data for the 1998 Honda Cb 500 S — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

84.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.38

Over 3.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

31k

Middle half: 18k–44k

For context

These stats describe 125 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.

Average reliability — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 125 Honda Cb 500 S cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Cb 500 S

Based on MOT data from 125 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4% 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 (96%)	120	84.1%	0.38

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Cb 500 S 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.

30,859

typical

17,565

low mileage

43,836

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Cb 500 S vehicles fall between 17,565 and 43,836 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,565 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.

✓ 17,565–43,836 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Cb 500 Ss sit.

⚠ Over 59,178 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Honda Cb 500 S — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 63% of 1998 Honda Cb 500 Ss are still active.

10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 — 63% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* 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

3.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.38

Avg failures per vehicle

1.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb 500 S: All Cb 500 S years → Which year to buy? →

1999

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Average reliability — agree?