2013 Keeway RKV 125 0.1L Petrol · FJ13 CNV

A steering headbearing failure sits at the heart of this Keeway's recent MOT history and is the defining mechanical concern for any prospective buyer. The motorcycle was presented for test on 14 January 2026 and passed, but only after a Major defect was recorded against the headbearing on the previous day's failed attempt, citing excessive wear or free play with the wheel raised. This is a safety-critical component that governs steering feel and stability, and the fact that it reached failure point rather than being flagged as an advisory suggests it had been developing for some time. The same test also recorded an advisory for the rear tyre being worn close to the legal limit, which together with the headbearing issue indicates a vehicle whose front-end and contact-patch components are showing meaningful wear despite limited annual use. Looking at the broader pattern across 2023 and 2026, there is a recurring theme of tyre wear to legal limits at both ends, accompanied in 2023 by a slightly loose rear drive chain and a failed rear stop lamp, painting a picture of a machine where consumables and primary safety items have repeatedly been left to approach rejection thresholds rather than being proactively replaced. With 21,642 miles recorded over roughly thirteen years, this Keeway averages around 1,665 miles annually, which is modest even for a small-capacity commuter and points to either short-journey use, seasonal riding, or extended periods of standing. The MOT record itself is sparse, with only two test entries spaced nearly three years apart and no recorded tests between mid-2023 and early 2026, suggesting the machine may not have been used on the public road continuously through that window. Lower annual mileage such as this reduces wear on high-cycle components like brake discs, clutch plates and engine internals, but it places greater stress on items that deteriorate through inactivity, including chain and sprocket corrosion, brake caliper seizure, fluid degradation, and the very steering headbearing which has just been flagged. The combination of low average mileage and a steering headbearing failure is particularly telling, as headbearings on lightly used or stored motorcycles commonly suffer from brinelling and pitted races due to static loading without regular articulation, and any replacement bearing fitted immediately prior to the January 2026 pass should be regarded as relatively unproven. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is to verify exactly what work was carried out on the steering headbearing between the 13 and 14 January 2026 tests and to scrutinise the condition and provenance of any replacement fitted. On a test ride, the steering should feel completely smooth and notch-free from lock to lock with the motorcycle on the centre stand, and any clicking, roughness, or a perceptible notch as the bars pass the straight-ahead position would indicate the bearing has not been correctly adjusted, has been seated on a worn race, or is of inadequate quality. Front-end dive under braking should remain linear without any juddering or binding, and the front wheel should spin freely with no roughness when the bike is lifted. Given the persistent rear and front tyre advisories across both 2023 and 2026, the tyres currently fitted should be inspected for age, tread depth across the full width rather than just the centre, and any uneven wear patterns, while the wheels should be checked for trueness. The slightly loose rear drive chain flagged in 2023 warrants particular attention because chains on low-mileage machines often look superficially acceptable yet have corroded links, stiffened O-rings or X-rings, and uneven tension across their length. With the rear stand engaged, the chain should be moved through its full travel and checked for tight spots, seized links, and any rust pitting on the sprocket faces; the rear sprocket teeth should be symmetrical and not hooked or shark-fin shaped. Brake operation must be assessed thoroughly, especially given the failed rear stop lamp in 2023, which could have been a simple bulb or switch issue but should be confirmed resolved by verifying that the lamp illuminates cleanly on both application and release. Hydraulic brake feel should be firm without sponginess or excessive lever travel, and the calipers should retract fully so the discs spin without scrubbing. Finally, the low annual usage means fuel system, battery, and coolant components warrant a basic functional check, and any evidence of prolonged standing such as perished rubber gaiters, dried grease on exposed linkages, or surface oxidation on aluminium parts should be factored into negotiations, as these items tend to surface together on a motorcycle of this usage profile.