Honda MSX MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda MSX motorcycles pass the MOT 84.45% of the time, measured across 2,997 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.11% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.4 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 84.45% 2,531 of 2,997

Fixed at the station 7.11% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 8,947 miles

Average age at test 8.02 years old

Engine 125cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Honda MSX adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with missing - it accounts for 56.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check not working and excessively loose, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (11.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 8,947 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate	Tests
3-5 years	89.14%	525
6-10 years	83.22%	2,264
11-15 years	85.99%	207

Why the Honda MSX fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Missing	56.5%	143
2	Not working	25.7%	65
3	Excessively loose	22.9%	58
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	18.6%	47
5	Does not conform to the specified requirements	15.4%	39
6	Obviously incorrectly positioned	14.6%	37
7	Too high	14.6%	37
8	Insecure	12.3%	31
9	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	11.5%	29
10	Too low	10.7%	27

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	11.8%	354
2	Excessively loose	6.7%	201
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.3%	129
4	Worn to excess	2.9%	86
5	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.9%	58
6	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.8%	55
7	Has excessive play	1.5%	44
8	Inscription illegible	1.3%	39
9	Excessively binding	1.2%	36
10	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1%	30

Honda MSX for sale

No Honda MSX in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda MSX Used Honda All Honda Honda MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Yamaha GPD125-A NMAX 125 · 125cc	8,762	80.8%	45,039
Piaggio VESPA 79-210cc · 79-210cc	8,363	85.42%	11,710
Honda WW · 125cc	7,252	80.32%	40,134
Honda WW 125 A-M · 125cc	5,011	84.06%	29,846
Honda GLR · 125cc	4,737	79.99%	14,642
Honda CBF 100-125cc · 100-125cc	3,204	77%	15,203

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Honda MSX MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda MSX?+

84.45% of Honda MSX MOT tests end in a pass, based on 2,997 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda MSX?+

Missing, which appears in 56.5% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda MSX get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 85.99%, against 89.14% for examples 3-5 years old.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.