CarVerify

Honda NX650 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda NX650 car check

Is the Honda NX650 reliable? We analysed 9,865 real MOT tests across 1,148 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda NX650? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 9,865 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.2%
Typical Mileage
21,991mi
Annual Mileage
549mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda NX650 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda NX650.

Honda NX650 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda NX650. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda NX650 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda NX650 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.1%
2008
76.7%
2004
84.4%
2003
85.8%
2002
83.6%
2001
85.3%
2000
83.6%
1999
81.8%
1998
81.7%
1997
82.9%
1996
81.3%
1995
83.7%
1994
79.8%
1993
82%
1992
83%
1991
84.7%
1990
85.1%
1989
80.8%
1988

Honda NX650 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda NX650 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 108
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 73
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 71
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 70
reflector on motorcycle missing 68
wheel bearings have excessive free play 52
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 49
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 44
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 41
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 40

Honda NX650 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda NX650 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
160 mi/yr
Typical
549 mi/yr
Average
1,153 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,364 mi/yr

Honda NX650 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda NX650 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 59 88.1% 21,812 36,004 45,196
2004 189 76.7% 30,206 42,214 52,140
2003 450 84.4% 7,218 22,318 39,973
2002 487 85.8% 11,456 26,432 43,335
2001 935 83.6% 9,438 18,368 30,322
2000 1,112 85.3% 10,011 17,507 26,163
1999 1,295 83.6% 9,998 16,347 24,672
1998 588 81.8% 12,608 20,637 31,679
1997 714 81.7% 14,094 21,180 31,784
1996 794 82.9% 15,462 23,675 32,146
1995 599 81.3% 13,390 20,999 31,595
1994 270 83.7% 17,478 23,999 32,290
1993 297 79.8% 14,148 23,580 35,564
1992 300 82.0% 18,076 26,855 37,506
1991 259 83.0% 19,402 29,772 39,172
1990 301 84.7% 23,518 30,165 45,681
1989 652 85.1% 17,551 26,582 34,891
1988 271 80.8% 18,453 28,350 39,426

How Long Does a Honda NX650 Last?

Based on 1,148 Honda NX650 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.5 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda NX650 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda NX650 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
21,991 mi
75th Percentile
33,724 mi
95th Percentile
54,162 mi
Max Recorded
689,077 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda NX650

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

Best year
2008

88.1% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

Year to avoid
2004

76.7% MOT pass rate from 189 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda NX650 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.1% across 59 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda NX650 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda NX650 THIS CAR 83.2% 9,865 21,991 mi 38 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
Volkswagen Motor Home 71.3% 3,150 64,746 mi 55 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda NX650 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda NX650 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Honda NX650

Should you buy a used Honda NX650?

The Honda NX650 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.2% across 9,865 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Honda NX650 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (108 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (73), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (71). 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 NX650 owner drives around 549 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 NX650 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 NX650 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda NX650 reliable?
Based on 9,865 MOT tests, the Honda NX650 has a 83.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda NX650?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda NX650 do per year?
The typical Honda NX650 does around 549 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda NX650 last?
Most Honda NX650 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 1,148 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda NX650?
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 NX650?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda NX650 is 2008 with a 88.1% pass rate across 59 tests.