Honda SH 125 AD-K MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda SH 125 AD-K motorcycles pass the MOT 81.74% of the time, measured across 482 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.68% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 5.1 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 81.74% 394 of 482
Fixed at the station 7.68% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 51,323 miles
Average age at test 5.83 years old
Engine 125cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Honda SH 125 AD-K adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm - it accounts for 39.2% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s), the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (7.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 51,323 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 82.33% 283
6-10 years 80.9% 199

Why the Honda SH 125 AD-K 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 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 39.2% 20
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 35.3% 18
3 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 19.6% 10
4 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 19.6% 10
5 Remains on when the brakes are released 17.6% 9
6 Excessively stiff or notchy 13.7% 7
7 Not working 11.8% 6
8 Grip insecure to handlebar 9.8% 5
9 Switch does not operate in accordance with the requirements 9.8% 5
10 Has excessive play 7.8% 4

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 Less than 1.0 mm thick 7.5% 36
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7.5% 36
3 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 6.4% 31
4 Significantly and obviously worn 5% 24
5 Excessively stiff or notchy 3.5% 17
6 Has negligible damping effect 3.1% 15
7 Has a serious fluid leak 2.9% 14
8 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 2.9% 14
9 Has excessive wear or free play 2.1% 10
10 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.1% 10

Honda SH 125 AD-K for sale

No Honda SH 125 AD-K in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.

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 SH 125 AD-K MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda SH 125 AD-K?+
81.74% of Honda SH 125 AD-K MOT tests end in a pass, based on 482 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda SH 125 AD-K?+
Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, which appears in 39.2% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Honda SH 125 AD-K get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 80.9%, against 82.33% 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.
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