Honda Xl125rc (1982)

741 real MOT outcomes analysed • 1.4% first-time pass rate

1982 Honda Xl125rc

CarHunch analysed 741 real MOT records for the 1982 Honda Xl125rc. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 1982 Honda XL125RC has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 1.4%, compared to the UK average of 80%—a catastrophic result that reflects the age and condition of surviving examples rather than inherent design flaws. With zero dangerous defects recorded across 741 vehicles, safety isn't the issue; instead, these bikes are simply too old and worn to meet modern emissions and equipment standards on their first test attempt.

The median mileage of 18,065 miles is remarkably low for a 42-year-old machine, suggesting most remaining examples are garage-kept classics rather than working motorcycles. These bikes average virtually no failures per vehicle once they've been through the MOT process, meaning that if you're considering one, focus your pre-purchase inspection on cosmetics and originality rather than mechanical soundness—but accept that getting it through MOT will require patience and potentially multiple visits to sort minor issues.

Below average reliability 78.6% below UK average
1.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
18,065
typical mileage
11,725–33,885 middle half
0%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.01
avg MOT failures per car
over 1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1982 Honda Xl125rc

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 Xl125rc

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

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 740 1.3% 0.01
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1982 Honda Xl125rc 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.

11,725
low mileage
18,065
typical
33,885
high mileage

Half of all 1982 Honda Xl125rc vehicles fall between 11,725 and 33,885 miles.

MOT History Averages

1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.01
Avg failures per vehicle
0
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1982 Honda Xl125rc

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

  • 66.7%
    Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey
  • 33.3%
    Rear Roller brake test Higher brake efficiency normally obtainable.
  • 33.3%
    Rear Wheel alignment slightly misaligned.
  • 33.3%
    kick start lever worn
  • 33.3%
    Exhaust slightly deteriorated
  • 33.3%
    headlamp reflector tarnished
  • 33.3%
    Headlamp aim too low
  • 33.3%
    Front Roller brake test Higher brake efficiency normally obtainable.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1982. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda Xl125rc?

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

UK

Other model years — Honda Xl125rc:

1983 1984 1985