Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Honda Cb1300?

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 2004 Honda Cb1300?

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 2004 Honda Cb1300?

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 2004 Honda Cb1300 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 479 vehicles, the 2004 Honda Cb1300 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Honda Cb1300?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Honda Cb1300 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (63.5% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.8% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (53% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Honda Cb1300?

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 Cb1300 (2004)

479 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Honda Cb1300

CarHunch analysed 479 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Cb1300. 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 Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 479 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Honda CB1300 is a genuinely reliable motorcycle, passing its MOT first time at 89.7%—nearly 10 points above the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects are uncommon at 12.7%, so safety-critical failures are not a major concern with this model.

At nearly 18,300 miles on average, these bikes show modest mileage for their age, suggesting they've been reasonably well-maintained or are garage queens. The average of 1.65 failures and 5.3 advisories per test indicates minor wear items rather than structural problems—typical for a robust mid-size roadster. When shopping, ask the seller for full service history and check the exhaust and frame carefully, as these are where age usually shows first.

The 2004 Honda Cb1300 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (89.7% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ 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

89.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

12.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.65

Over 14.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

16k

Middle half: 11k–23k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.7% 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 5.3 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 479 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 479 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 63.5%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 53%

Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 45.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 13.1%

Headlamp aim too low · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Drive chain slightly loose

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 8.1%

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 479 Honda Cb1300 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Honda Cb1300

Based on MOT data from 479 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.7% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,203 Honda Cb1300 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 33.7%

742

White 27.2%

599

Red 25.8%

569

Silver 7.8%

171

Blue 4.3%

Grey 0.6%

Orange 0.5%

Brown 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Honda Cb1300 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.

15,701

typical

10,748

low mileage

22,512

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Honda Cb1300 vehicles fall between 10,748 and 22,512 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,748 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.

✓ 10,748–22,512 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Honda Cb1300s sit.

⚠ Over 30,391 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Honda Cb1300 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 58% of 2004 Honda Cb1300s are still active.

197 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 58% 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

14.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.65

Avg failures per vehicle

5.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Cb1300: All Cb1300 years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Honda Cb1300 stacks up against a rival.

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