Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Honda Vt500ef?

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 Vt500ef?

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 Vt500ef?

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.

What are common problems with the 1987 Honda Vt500ef?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Honda Vt500ef are: Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey (22.2% of vehicles), Headlamp aim too high (22.2% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.4% 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 Vt500ef?

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 Vt500ef (1987)

542 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Honda Vt500ef

CarHunch has 542 1987 Honda Vt500ef vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1987 Honda Vt500ef doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Honda vehicles below.

Browse all Honda models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Honda Vt500ef you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

This 1987 Honda VT500EF is a motorcycle, not a light vehicle, so it falls outside the DVLA's standard MOT testing regime covered here—conventional pass-rate comparisons don't apply. What we can say is that the 542 machines in this cohort show very low defect counts (0.04 failures and 0.1 advisories per test on average), with dangerous defects recorded in just 0.5% of vehicles, suggesting mechanically sound examples survive well.

The median mileage of 40,151 miles is modest for a 37-year-old bike, typical of machines that have been cherished or used seasonally rather than ridden hard. If you're considering one, focus on service history, the integrity of the fuel system and electrics (common weak points on 80s Honda middleweights), and whether the engine has been regularly started—long storage is far more damaging to old bikes than miles ridden.

MOT statistics not available

We have 542 1987 Honda Vt500ef vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Across 542 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 22.2%

Headlamp aim too high

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

Exhaust & emissions 22.2%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Tyre wear 19.4%

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

Suspension & steering 13.9%

Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Nearside Rear Rear spring corroded but not seriously weakened · Front Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · …

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

Brake wear 11.1%

Rear Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · Rear Roller brake test indicates a slightly juddering brake

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

Other issues 11.1%

Clutch lever shortened. · Clutch lever bent

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

Before you buy a 1987 Honda Vt500ef

Based on MOT data from 542 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.6% 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