Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Honda Nsr125?

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 2003 Honda Nsr125?

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 2003 Honda Nsr125?

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 2003 Honda Nsr125 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 388 vehicles, the 2003 Honda Nsr125 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Honda Nsr125?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Honda Nsr125 are: Drive chain slightly loose (37.3% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.3% 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 2003 Honda Nsr125?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Honda Nsr125 (2003)

388 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.6% first-time pass rate

2003 Honda Nsr125

CarHunch analysed 388 real MOT records for the 2003 Honda Nsr125. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 388 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2003 Honda NSR125 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62.2%, which is 18 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that signals these bikes need serious attention before test time. Nearly one in five of these machines (19.1%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, so a full pre-purchase inspection is essential.

These NSR125s are running relatively light mileage for their age at around 12,500 miles median, yet they're still accumulating nearly two failures per test and 5.5 advisories, suggesting age-related wear rather than abuse is the culprit. Before buying one, have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, lights, and exhaust system specifically—the most common failure categories for this model.

The 2003 Honda Nsr125 has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.6% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

73.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.99

Over 7.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

12k

Middle half: 8k–17k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.5 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 388 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 388 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 37.3%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn

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

Tyre wear 32.6%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

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

Brake wear 27.6%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · …

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

Other issues 23.4%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose

Suspension & steering 15.6%

Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · 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 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 388 Honda Nsr125 cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Honda Nsr125

Based on MOT data from 388 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.1% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	385	73.6%	1.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,551 Honda Nsr125 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 35.4%

1,256

Red 31.1%

1,104

Multi-colour 11.8%

418

Blue 10.4%

368

White 3.9%

138

Yellow 2%

Grey 1.7%

Beige 1%

Orange 1%

Green 0.8%

Silver 0.6%

Purple 0.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Honda Nsr125 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.

12,477

typical

8,167

low mileage

17,486

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Honda Nsr125 vehicles fall between 8,167 and 17,486 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 8,167 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.

✓ 8,167–17,486 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Honda Nsr125s sit.

⚠ Over 23,606 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Honda Nsr125 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 25% of 2003 Honda Nsr125s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 27 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (25% 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

7.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.99

Avg failures per vehicle

5.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Nsr125: All Nsr125 years → Which year to buy? →

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Honda Nsr125 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on