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Honda NS125R-K Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda NS125R-K car check

Is the Honda NS125R-K reliable? We analysed 431 real MOT tests across 133 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 431 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.0%
Typical Mileage
22,040mi
Annual Mileage
733mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Honda NS125R-K is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda NS125R-K.

Honda NS125R-K Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda NS125R-K. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda NS125R-K MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda NS125R-K to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

68.2%
1990
62.3%
1989

Honda NS125R-K Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda NS125R-K fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 39
reflector on motorcycle missing 24
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 17
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 17
Footrest missing 14
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 12
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 11
wheel bearings have excessive free play 10
suspension bush has excessive free play 10
suspension has inadequate damping effect. 9

Honda NS125R-K Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda NS125R-K owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
156 mi/yr
Typical
733 mi/yr
Average
1,464 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,782 mi/yr

Honda NS125R-K MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda NS125R-K year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1990 88 68.2% 18,781 22,062 26,564
1989 183 62.3% 18,724 26,623 35,481

How Long Does a Honda NS125R-K Last?

Based on 133 Honda NS125R-K vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.5 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Honda NS125R-K Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda NS125R-K MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
22,040 mi
75th Percentile
32,005 mi
95th Percentile
43,382 mi
Max Recorded
221,122 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda NS125R-K

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1990

68.2% MOT pass rate from 88 tests

Year to avoid
1989

62.3% MOT pass rate from 183 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda NS125R-K is 1990, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 68.2% across 88 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda NS125R-K Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda NS125R-K THIS CAR 65.0% 431 22,040 mi 37 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Kawasaki Zx 1002 Ajf SX 92.6% 664 8,546 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda NS125R-K trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda NS125R-K?

The Honda NS125R-K has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.0% across 431 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Honda NS125R-K are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (39 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (24), and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (17). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Honda NS125R-K owner drives around 733 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda NS125R-K models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda NS125R-K — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda NS125R-K reliable?
Based on 431 MOT tests, the Honda NS125R-K has a 65.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Honda NS125R-K?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing, and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda NS125R-K do per year?
The typical Honda NS125R-K does around 733 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda NS125R-K last?
Most Honda NS125R-K models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 133 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda NS125R-K?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda NS125R-K?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda NS125R-K is 1990 with a 68.2% pass rate across 88 tests.