Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Honda Fes125?

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 2004 Honda Fes125?

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 2004 Honda Fes125?

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.

How many 2004 Honda Fes125 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Honda Fes125 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 338 vehicles, the 2004 Honda Fes125 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Honda Fes125?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Honda Fes125 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51.2% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (48.4% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39.1% 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 2004 Honda Fes125?

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 Fes125 (2004)

338 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Honda Fes125

CarHunch analysed 338 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Fes125. 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 Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 338 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Honda FES125 passes its MOT first time at 82.3%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, but the dangerous defect rate of 27.5% is a genuine concern—roughly one in four of these bikes will flag a safety-critical fault at some point. This is notably higher than typical and suggests wear-related issues with age.

The median mileage of 14,775 miles is reasonable for a 20-year-old scooter, yet the average of 1.98 failures per vehicle indicates recurring problems beyond just one-off fixes. If you're considering one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on braking systems and structural integrity, since those dangerous defects won't always show up until the MOT test itself.

The 2004 Honda Fes125 has a decent first-time pass rate (82.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

82.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

27.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.98

Over 10.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–22k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 338 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 338 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 51.2%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

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

Brake wear 48.4%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 30%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · …

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 338 Honda Fes125 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Honda Fes125

Based on MOT data from 338 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.5% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,422 Honda Fes125 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 37.1%

898

Blue 27.9%

675

Red 14.1%

342

Black 12.9%

313

White 2.4%

Purple 1.8%

Green 1.7%

Bronze 1.5%

Yellow 0.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Honda Fes125 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.

14,775

typical

9,633

low mileage

21,657

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Honda Fes125 vehicles fall between 9,633 and 21,657 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,633 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.

✓ 9,633–21,657 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Honda Fes125s sit.

⚠ Over 29,236 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Honda Fes125 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2004 Honda Fes125s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% of peak).

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

10.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.98

Avg failures per vehicle

5.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Fes125: All Fes125 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Honda Fes125 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing