Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Honda Transalp?

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 1987 Honda Transalp?

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 1987 Honda Transalp?

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 1987 Honda Transalp reliable?

Based on MOT data from 155 vehicles, the 1987 Honda Transalp has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Honda Transalp?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Honda Transalp are: Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (66.7% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (47.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (28.6% 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 1987 Honda Transalp?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Honda Transalp (1987)

155 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.6% first-time pass rate

1987 Honda Transalp

CarHunch analysed 155 real MOT records for the 1987 Honda Transalp. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1987 Honda Transalp posts an 84.6% first-time MOT pass rate, which is comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, and none of the 155 bikes analysed have ever shown a dangerous defect—a genuinely clean safety record. These are clearly well-maintained machines, with no petrol versus diesel variation to consider since this is exclusively a petrol model.

The median mileage of 32,690 is remarkably low for a 37-year-old bike, suggesting most survivors have been cherished rather than thrashed, and the minimal failure and advisory counts (0.14 and 0.3 per vehicle respectively) confirm these are robust, straightforward machines. If you're considering one, check service history and overall condition carefully—at this age, mechanical soundness matters far more than MOT pass rates, so a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist is essential.

We have limited data for the 1987 Honda Transalp — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

84.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.14

Over 1.7 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 20k–37k

For context

These stats describe 155 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 155 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 66.7%

Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Front Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · …

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

Lighting 47.6%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside · Headlamp masks/converters fitted · …

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

Tyre wear 28.6%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

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

Suspension & steering 23.8%

Rear suspension bearing has slight free play · Steering control fouling between components which interferes with the free movement of the steering

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

Other issues 14.3%

Rear Wheel corroded but not significantly reducing the original strength · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 155 Honda Transalp cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Honda Transalp

Based on MOT data from 155 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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 (99%)	154	84.5%	0.14

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Honda Transalp 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.

32,690

typical

19,562

low mileage

37,109

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Honda Transalp vehicles fall between 19,562 and 37,109 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,562 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.

✓ 19,562–37,109 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Honda Transalps sit.

⚠ Over 50,097 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

1.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.14

Avg failures per vehicle

0.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Honda Transalp stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?