Honda Cg125br J (1988)
1988 Honda Cg125br J
CarHunch analysed 801 real MOT records for the 1988 Honda Cg125br J. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1988 Honda CG125BR-J is fundamentally unreliable by modern MOT standards: just 4.1% pass first time against the UK average of 80%. These are elderly motorcycles, and the data reflects their age—most still on the road have logged only around 25,000 miles, suggesting survivors are those carefully maintained or lightly used, yet even they struggle to pass without work.
The silver lining is that failures and advisories are rare (0.06 and 0.1 per vehicle respectively), and dangerous defects affect less than 1% of the cohort, meaning when these bikes do fail it's usually for minor issues rather than safety-critical problems. If you're considering one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection and expect to spend time on remedial work before it's road-legal—but the mechanical simplicity of a 125cc single-cylinder bike means repairs should be straightforward and affordable.
What to check before buying a 1988 Honda Cg125br J
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Honda Cg125br J
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 800 | 3.9% | 0.06 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Honda Cg125br J vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1988 Honda Cg125br J vehicles fall between 15,127 and 31,873 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 Honda Cg125br J
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
15.2%
Rear Wheel corroded but not significantly reducing the original strength
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15.2%
Front Wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim.
-
15.2%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
12.1%
Front wheel bearings have slight free play
-
12.1%
Chain guard missing
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12.1%
Rear wheel bearings have slight free play
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12.1%
Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect
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12.1%
Rear position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Honda Cg125br J?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.