Honda Xr 125 L 4 (2004)
2004 Honda Xr 125 L 4
CarHunch analysed 350 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Xr 125 L 4. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Honda XR 125 L-4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 50.7%, nearly 30 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, which signals genuine reliability concerns for this ageing small bike. Fortunately, only 14.9% of these machines have ever recorded a dangerous defect, so while they fail often, the failures tend to be manageable rather than safety-critical.
These bikes are running at 13,177 miles median mileage—modest for their age—yet still averaging 1.66 failures and 4.5 advisories per test, suggesting wear-related issues accumulate quickly even at low miles. Before buying, budget for regular maintenance to address those advisories before they become failures, and factor in potentially higher MOT retesting costs given the weak pass rate.
What to check before buying a 2004 Honda Xr 125 L 4
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 Xr 125 L 4
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 (97%) | 340 | 49.9% | 1.69 |
| Other (3%) | 10 | 78.3% | 0.7 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Honda Xr 125 L 4 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.
Half of all 2004 Honda Xr 125 L 4 vehicles fall between 8,236 and 18,882 miles.
2004 Honda Xr 125 L 4 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (32% of peak).
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
Found a specific Honda Xr 125 L 4?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.
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