Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Honda Nx650?

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 1989 Honda Nx650?

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 1989 Honda Nx650?

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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Honda Nx650?

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 Nx650 (1989)

150 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.9% first-time pass rate

1989 Honda Nx650

CarHunch analysed 150 real MOT records for the 1989 Honda Nx650. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 10.1% below UK average

69.9%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

29,059

typical mileage

17,330–40,293 middle half

7.3%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

0.97

avg MOT failures per car

over 6.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Honda Nx650

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 Nx650

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection

Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying →

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	149	69.9%	0.96
Other (1%)	1	71.4%	2

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Honda Nx650 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.

17,330

low mileage

29,059

typical

40,293

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Honda Nx650 vehicles fall between 17,330 and 40,293 miles.

1989 Honda Nx650 — Still on the Road

20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 56% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.97

Avg failures per vehicle

2.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Honda Nx650

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

27.4%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
14.3%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
12.2%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive
10.9%

Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn
10.9%

Exhaust noisy
10.4%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit
9.6%

Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn
8.3%

Rear suspension bush has slight free play

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda Nx650?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Honda Nx650:

1999 2000