Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Honda Xbr500 H?

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 Xbr500 H?

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 Xbr500 H?

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 Xbr500 H reliable?

Based on MOT data from 144 vehicles, the 1987 Honda Xbr500 H has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.8%, 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 Xbr500 H?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Honda Xbr500 H are: Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion (17.4% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (17.4% of vehicles), Steering headbearing has slight free play (17.4% 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 Xbr500 H?

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 Xbr500 H (1987)

144 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.8% first-time pass rate

1987 Honda Xbr500 H

CarHunch analysed 144 real MOT records for the 1987 Honda Xbr500 H. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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

We have limited data for the 1987 Honda Xbr500 H — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

81.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

1.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.15

Over 1.7 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

44k

Middle half: 37k–52k

For context

These stats describe 144 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 144 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 17.4%

Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Steering headbearing has slight free play · Rear suspension component slightly corroded. rear shock rods

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

Exhaust & emissions 17.4%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Tyre wear 13%

Rear Tyre valve stem slightly damaged · Front tyre is slightly perished

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

Brake wear 13%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · slight brake bind front · Front Roller brake test 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%

Front Stop lamp not working · Rear position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on · Front Valve stem slightly damaged

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

Other issues 13%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · gear lever loose · front wheel lateral run out 0.5mm!

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 144 Honda Xbr500 H cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Honda Xbr500 H

Based on MOT data from 144 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 1.4% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	143	81.6%	0.15

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Honda Xbr500 H 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.

44,283

typical

36,803

low mileage

51,779

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Honda Xbr500 H vehicles fall between 36,803 and 51,779 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,803 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.

✓ 36,803–51,779 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Honda Xbr500 Hs sit.

⚠ Over 69,901 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

0.15

Avg failures per vehicle

0.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Xbr500 H: All Xbr500 H years → Which year to buy? →

1988

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Honda Xbr500 H stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?