Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D?

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 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D?

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 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D?

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 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D reliable?

Based on MOT data from 354 vehicles, the 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.4%, 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 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D?

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 Xa D (2013)

354 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.4% first-time pass rate

2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D

CarHunch analysed 354 real MOT records for the 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 354 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2013 Honda CB 500 XA-D is a genuinely reliable middleweight: it hits 87.8% first-time pass rate, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects show up in only 18.6% of examples—well within acceptable territory for a 11-year-old bike. Petrol variants (the only option here) maintain that 87.2% pass rate consistently.

These bikes are being ridden properly: median mileage sits at just 15,673 miles for their age, suggesting they're weekend warriors rather than commuters, which tracks with the modest average of 0.79 failures per MOT. The 3.8 advisories per vehicle hint at minor wear (brake dust, light corrosion, tired chain) rather than structural trouble, so if you're buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the suspension linkages and exhaust fixings—the two areas where these bikes tend to rack up non-dangerous advisories.

The 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.4%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

91.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

18.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.79

Over 8.1 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

16k

Middle half: 10k–25k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 354 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 354 Honda Cb 500 Xa D cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D

Based on MOT data from 354 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.6% 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 (95%)	338	91%	0.83

Colour Breakdown

Based on 374 Honda Cb 500 Xa D vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 44.4%

166

White 28.1%

105

Black 27.5%

103

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D 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.

15,673

typical

9,532

low mileage

24,916

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D vehicles fall between 9,532 and 24,916 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,532 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.

✓ 9,532–24,916 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa Ds sit.

⚠ Over 33,636 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 66% of 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa Ds are still active.

211 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 66% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

8.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.79

Avg failures per vehicle

3.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Honda Cb 500 Xa D stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?