Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Honda Xl125v?

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 2004 Honda Xl125v?

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 2004 Honda Xl125v?

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.

How many 2004 Honda Xl125v vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Honda Xl125v reliable?

Based on MOT data from 291 vehicles, the 2004 Honda Xl125v has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Honda Xl125v?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Honda Xl125v are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (74.5% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (69.5% of vehicles), Drive chain worn but not considered excessive (40.4% 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 2004 Honda Xl125v?

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 Xl125v (2004)

291 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80% first-time pass rate

2004 Honda Xl125v

CarHunch analysed 291 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Xl125v. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Honda XL125V hits the UK average pass rate of 80%, but a concerning 30.2% of these bikes have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history—well above the danger threshold—so inspection by a trusted mechanic before purchase is essential. Petrol and diesel comparisons don't apply to motorcycles, but the dangerous defect rate alone marks this as a model worth extra scrutiny.

At just 15,089 miles median (16,853 average), these are lightly-used machines for their age, yet they still rack up 2.51 failures and 9.6 advisories per test on average, pointing to wear items like chains, brakes, and electrics that age regardless of miles. Before committing to one, have the brakes, suspension, and fuel system professionally checked—that high dangerous defect percentage suggests hidden issues are common on this model.

We have limited data for the 2004 Honda Xl125v — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

80%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.51

Over 11.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–22k

For context

These stats describe 291 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 291 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 74.5%

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

Lighting 69.5%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn

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

Other issues 40.4%

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

Brake wear 26.1%

Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Front Roller brake test indicates a binding brake · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Suspension & steering 18%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · 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 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 291 Honda Xl125v cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Honda Xl125v

Based on MOT data from 291 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.2% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,926 Honda Xl125v vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 34.7%

1,014

Blue 25.9%

759

Black 21.7%

634

Red 12.9%

377

Orange 1.7%

White 1.4%

Grey 0.6%

Green 0.4%

Yellow 0.3%

Purple 0.3%

Gold 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Honda Xl125v 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.

15,089

typical

9,990

low mileage

21,713

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Honda Xl125v vehicles fall between 9,990 and 21,713 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,990 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.

✓ 9,990–21,713 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Honda Xl125vs sit.

⚠ Over 29,312 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Honda Xl125v — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 43% of 2004 Honda Xl125vs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 65 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% 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

11.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.51

Avg failures per vehicle

9.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Xl125v: All Xl125v years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Honda Xl125v stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing