1988 Honda NTV650 0.7L Petrol · E852 CGN

This Honda NTV650 shows a stable roadworthiness trend over the past three years, with the most recent MOT test on 2023-09-08 confirming full compliance with no defects recorded. The vehicle passed its subsequent annual tests in 2024 and 2025 without fail, though the record lacks explicit details on advisories or minor issues—suggesting either consistent maintenance or a history of passing with minimal scrutiny. The sole failure in July 2022 stands out as anomalous, given no defects were logged, which may indicate a clerical error or a test focused solely on emissions or minor non-critical items. For a buyer, this pattern implies the vehicle has avoided major mechanical failures, but the absence of advisory notes means critical components like suspension bushes, coil springs, or brake binding conditions may not have been flagged. The recorded mileage of 36,347 miles over approximately 27 years—roughly 1,346 miles annually—is unusually low for a vehicle of this age, suggesting either minimal use or prolonged periods of storage. The gap between the 2022 failure (July 25) and the subsequent pass (August 15) is unusually brief, which could imply the vehicle was driven briefly for the test or sat idle for months before retesting. There are no other mileage markers to assess wear trends, but the low annual mileage raises questions about fluid degradation (e.g., brake fluid, coolant) and potential dry-rotting of rubber components like hoses or seals. Buyers should verify if fluids were regularly serviced or if the vehicle was stored with protective measures. Given the sparse MOT record, priority should be given to inspecting high-wear areas that often go unnoticed in basic tests. The suspension—particularly rear bushes and coil springs—should be checked for excessive play or corrosion, as these components degrade silently over time. Binding rear brakes were not recorded in failures, but the lack of advisory notes means a thorough check of caliper movement and disc thickness is essential, especially given the low mileage. Structural integrity, particularly around the frame rails and subframe mounts, should be scrutinised for hidden corrosion or fatigue cracks, which are common in older motorcycles exposed to varying climates. Finally, the exhaust system’s integrity must be confirmed, as rust-through in older models often leads to leaks or structural compromise.