Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9?

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 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9?

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 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9?

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 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 167 vehicles, the 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9?

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 XL 700 Va 9 (2009)

167 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.1% first-time pass rate

2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9

CarHunch analysed 167 real MOT records for the 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2009 Honda XL 700 VA-9 passes its MOT on the first attempt 81.9% of the time, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which suggests decent baseline reliability—though 17.4% of these bikes have encountered a dangerous defect at some point, a concern worth taking seriously on a used purchase. Petrol models sit at 80.8%, right in line with the national figure.

At just under 19,000 miles on average, these machines show low mileage for their age, which is typical for adventure bikes that aren't ridden daily. The 0.98 average failures per test and 4.2 advisories point to minor wear items rather than structural problems, but any used example should be inspected for brake and suspension integrity given the bike's off-road capable design—ask the seller for full MOT history before committing.

We have limited data for the 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

91.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

17.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.98

Over 9.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

18k

Middle half: 12k–25k

For context

These stats describe 167 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?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 167 Honda XL 700 Va 9 cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9

Based on MOT data from 167 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.4% 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 (93%)	156	90.7%	1.04

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 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.

17,715

typical

11,659

low mileage

25,050

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 vehicles fall between 11,659 and 25,050 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,659 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.

✓ 11,659–25,050 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9s sit.

⚠ Over 33,817 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 59% of 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9s are still active.

69 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 59% 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

9.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.98

Avg failures per vehicle

4.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Honda XL 700 Va 9 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?