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

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?

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?

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 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 191 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Cb 500 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.5%, 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?

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 (1998)

191 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.5% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Cb 500

CarHunch analysed 191 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Cb 500. 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 MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1998 Honda CB 500 is a serious reliability gamble: just 26% pass their MOT first time, nearly three times worse than the UK average of 80%, though the low dangerous defect rate of 3.7% means catastrophic failures are rare. Buyers should expect these bikes to need attention, with the average vehicle racking up 0.4 failures and 1.1 advisories per test.

At nearly 40,000 miles median for a 26-year-old bike, these CB 500s have been ridden but not thrashed—yet the poor pass rate suggests deferred maintenance rather than abuse. Before buying, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a Honda specialist and expect to address brake wear, corrosion, and aging electrics as standard costs of ownership.

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

First-time pass

80.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

3.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.4

Over 2.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 23k–52k

For context

These stats describe 191 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 191 Honda Cb 500 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Cb 500

Based on MOT data from 191 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.7% 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 (97%)	186	80.3%	0.4

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Cb 500 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.

38,220

typical

22,545

low mileage

52,416

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Cb 500 vehicles fall between 22,545 and 52,416 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,545 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.

✓ 22,545–52,416 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Cb 500s sit.

⚠ Over 70,761 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.4

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Average reliability — agree?