Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Honda Sh 125 4?

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 2005 Honda Sh 125 4?

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 2005 Honda Sh 125 4?

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 2005 Honda Sh 125 4 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 247 vehicles, the 2005 Honda Sh 125 4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2005 Honda Sh 125 4?

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 Sh 125 4 (2005)

247 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.6% first-time pass rate

2005 Honda Sh 125 4

CarHunch analysed 247 real MOT records for the 2005 Honda Sh 125 4. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2005 Honda SH 125 scooter struggles at MOT, with a 58.9% first-time pass rate that's well below the UK average of 80%—meaning nearly 4 in 10 fail their test. The good news is that dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 15.4%, so safety-critical failures aren't the main problem.

With a median mileage of just under 15,000 km for a 19-year-old machine, these scooters are lightly used, yet they're still accumulating an average of 1.39 failures and 2.7 advisories per test. Budget for regular maintenance and expect to address wear items like brakes and suspension before MOT; if you're buying one, have it inspected by a scooter specialist and factor in repairs, because age and the high failure rate suggest this model needs attention to stay roadworthy.

We have limited data for the 2005 Honda Sh 125 4 — 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

82.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

15.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.39

Over 7.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 9k–21k

For context

These stats describe 247 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?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 247 Honda Sh 125 4 cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Honda Sh 125 4

Based on MOT data from 247 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.4% 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 (98%)	243	82.6%	1.4

Colour Breakdown

Based on 559 Honda Sh 125 4 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 35.2%

197

Red 34.7%

194

Silver 28.6%

160

Black 1.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Honda Sh 125 4 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.

14,991

typical

8,622

low mileage

21,378

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Honda Sh 125 4 vehicles fall between 8,622 and 21,378 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 8,622 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.

✓ 8,622–21,378 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Honda Sh 125 4s sit.

⚠ Over 28,860 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Honda Sh 125 4 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2005 Honda Sh 125 4s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% 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

7.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.39

Avg failures per vehicle

2.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Sh 125 4: All Sh 125 4 years → Which year to buy? →

2004

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

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Average reliability — agree?