Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Honda Fes250?

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 1998 Honda Fes250?

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 1998 Honda Fes250?

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 1998 Honda Fes250 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 205 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Fes250 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Honda Fes250?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Honda Fes250 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.8% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.8% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (42.8% 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 1998 Honda Fes250?

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 Fes250 (1998)

205 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.6% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Fes250

CarHunch analysed 205 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Fes250. 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

The 1998 Honda FES250 passes its MOT first time in 85.6% of cases, which is a solid 5.6 percentage points above the UK average—a genuine strength for a 26-year-old scooter. The dangerous defect rate of 17.1% is manageable and not a major red flag, though it's worth factoring into your safety assessment before purchase.

At a median mileage of 18,487 km, these machines are well-used but not worn out for their age, suggesting owners treat them reasonably. The average of 1.61 failures and 4.9 advisories per test indicates that while minor wear items need attention, structural and safety issues are not the norm—so get a pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, lights, and frame condition, then budget for routine maintenance on suspension and consumables.

We have limited data for the 1998 Honda Fes250 — 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

85.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

17.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.61

Over 10.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

18k

Middle half: 12k–28k

For context

These stats describe 205 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?

What tends to go wrong

Across 205 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.8%

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 42.8%

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

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

Exhaust & emissions 22.6%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Lighting 18.3%

Wheel alignment slightly misaligned. · Exhaust slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 18%

Steering headbearing has slight free play · Steering headbearing has excessive free play

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 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 205 Honda Fes250 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Fes250

Based on MOT data from 205 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.1% 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 571 Honda Fes250 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 28.9%

165

Red 28.2%

161

Silver 20.8%

119

Black 20.3%

116

Purple 1.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Fes250 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.

18,487

typical

12,231

low mileage

27,970

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Fes250 vehicles fall between 12,231 and 27,970 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 12,231 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.

✓ 12,231–27,970 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Fes250s sit.

⚠ Over 37,759 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Honda Fes250 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 19% of 1998 Honda Fes250s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% 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

10.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.61

Avg failures per vehicle

4.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Honda Fes250 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?