Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 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 2005 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 2005 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 2005 Honda Cb1300 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles, the 2005 Honda Cb1300 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2005 Honda Cb1300?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 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 2005 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 (2005)

335 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.3% first-time pass rate

2005 Honda Cb1300

CarHunch analysed 335 real MOT records for the 2005 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. 335 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2005 Honda CB1300 is a genuinely reliable motorcycle, passing its MOT on first attempt 91.3% of the time—well above the UK average of 80%. The 16.4% of bikes that have ever recorded a dangerous defect is worth noting for safety-conscious buyers, but it's not alarming for a machine nearly 20 years old.

At a median mileage of just 16,264 miles for its age, this is a lightly-used cohort that suggests many were weekend or collector bikes rather than daily commuters. The average of 1.29 failures per test and 5.0 advisories tells you that when problems do crop up, they tend to be minor wear items rather than structural issues—so budget for routine maintenance but expect the engine and frame to be solid.

The 2005 Honda Cb1300 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.3%) — 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

91.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

16.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.29

Over 13.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

16k

Middle half: 10k–24k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.3% 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 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 335 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?

What tends to go wrong

Across 335 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 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 335 Honda Cb1300 cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Honda Cb1300

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.4% 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

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 2005 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.

16,264

typical

10,356

low mileage

23,828

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Honda Cb1300 vehicles fall between 10,356 and 23,828 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,356 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.

✓ 10,356–23,828 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Honda Cb1300s sit.

⚠ Over 32,167 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 Cb1300 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 60% of 2005 Honda Cb1300s are still active.

152 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 60% 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

13.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.29

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2004 2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Honda Cb1300 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?