Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Honda Sh125?

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 2002 Honda Sh125?

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 2002 Honda Sh125?

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 2002 Honda Sh125 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 468 vehicles, the 2002 Honda Sh125 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Honda Sh125?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Honda Sh125 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (38% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.1% of vehicles), Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (22.9% 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 2002 Honda Sh125?

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 Sh125 (2002)

468 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83% first-time pass rate

2002 Honda Sh125

CarHunch analysed 468 real MOT records for the 2002 Honda Sh125. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 468 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2002 Honda SH125 passes its MOT first time in just 67.4% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals persistent reliability issues across this model year. Fourteen percent of these scooters have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a concern worth taking seriously before purchase.

At an average mileage of 17,132 km, these machines are relatively low-mileage survivors, yet they're still racking up 1.41 failures per test on average—suggesting age and wear rather than hard use is the problem. Budget for around three advisories per MOT and plan a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, lights, and frame condition, as these older scooters deteriorate predictably.

The 2002 Honda Sh125 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (83%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

83%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.41

Over 7.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–23k

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 3.1 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 468 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 468 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 38%

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 21.3%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · 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.

Lighting 14.8%

Headlamp aim too low · Exhaust slightly deteriorated

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

Suspension & steering 13.1%

Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect · Front suspension has a slightly reduced damping effect · 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 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 468 Honda Sh125 cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Honda Sh125

Based on MOT data from 468 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.3% 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%)	463	82.9%	1.42

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,540 Honda Sh125 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.6%

853

Blue 26.9%

683

Black 18.2%

462

Red 13%

331

White 5.5%

140

Beige 0.9%

Bronze 0.6%

Green 0.5%

Yellow 0.3%

Grey 0.3%

Maroon 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Honda Sh125 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.

15,221

typical

10,130

low mileage

22,942

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Honda Sh125 vehicles fall between 10,130 and 22,942 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,130 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.

✓ 10,130–22,942 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Honda Sh125s sit.

⚠ Over 30,971 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Honda Sh125 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 2002 Honda Sh125s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% 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

7.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.41

Avg failures per vehicle

3.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Sh125: All Sh125 years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Honda Sh125 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?