Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5?

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 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5?

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 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5?

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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5?

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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Kawasaki Ar125 B5 (1989)

Q: What are common problems with the 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5 are: Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (50% of vehicles), Steering control chaffing between components and not interfering with free movement of steering (50% of vehicles), Front wheel bearings are slightly rough (50% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

246 real MOT outcomes analysed

1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5

CarHunch has 246 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5 doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Kawasaki vehicles below.

Browse all Kawasaki models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Kawasaki Ar125 B5 you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

The 1989 Kawasaki AR125-B5 does not appear in the DVLA light-vehicle MOT database, so traditional pass rate and defect data are not available for this cohort. This is typical for motorcycles and scooters, which are tested under a different MOT regime than cars and vans. What we do know is that the 246 machines in this dataset have a median mileage of 16,783 miles—relatively low for a 35-year-old bike, suggesting many have been lightly used or are hobby/collection pieces rather than daily commuters. If you're considering one of these vintage small-capacity bikes, focus on the physical condition, service history, and whether the engine turns over smoothly; at this age, mechanical sympathy and regular maintenance matter far more than MOT pass rates.

MOT statistics not available

We have 246 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Across 246 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 50%

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear 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 50%

Steering control chaffing between components and not interfering with free movement of steering · Front wheel bearings are slightly rough · Front Front wheel bearings are excessively rough · …

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 1989.

Before you buy a 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5

Based on MOT data from 246 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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 410 Kawasaki Ar125 B5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 47.6%

195

White 44.6%

183

Red 2.4%

Green 2.2%

Blue 2%

Purple 1.2%

Other model years — Kawasaki Ar125 B5: All Ar125 B5 years → Which year to buy? →

1988

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Kawasaki Ar125 B5 stacks up against a rival.