Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125?

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 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125?

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 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125?

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 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 116 vehicles, the 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 are: Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (25.4% of vehicles), Rear wheel bearings have slight free play (18.3% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (17.1% 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 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125?

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 Kmx125 (1987)

116 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.7% first-time pass rate

1987 Kawasaki Kmx125

CarHunch analysed 116 real MOT records for the 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125. 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 Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

72.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.54

Over 5.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

19k

Middle half: 12k–24k

For context

These stats describe 116 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 116 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 25.4%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · …

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

Suspension & steering 18.3%

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Rear shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. · Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 16.3%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Brake wear 15.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly scored · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 13.1%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 11.5%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 116 Kawasaki Kmx125 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125

Based on MOT data from 116 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 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.

19,483

typical

12,108

low mileage

24,433

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 vehicles fall between 12,108 and 24,433 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 12,108 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.

✓ 12,108–24,433 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125s sit.

⚠ Over 32,984 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 — Still on the Road

Most 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the 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

5.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.54

Avg failures per vehicle

4.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Kmx125: All Kmx125 years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Kawasaki Kmx125 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on