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

Honda SH 125 AD-L motorcycles pass the MOT 86.17% of the time, measured across 1,793 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.23% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.7 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 86.17% 1,545 of 1,793

Fixed at the station 3.23% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 42,442 miles

Average age at test 4.32 years old

Engine 125cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Honda SH 125 AD-L 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 29.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and remains on when the brakes are released, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (6.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 42,442 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	86.17%		1,793

Why the Honda SH 125 AD-L 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	29.5%	56
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	25.3%	48
3	Remains on when the brakes are released	24.7%	47
4	Grip insecure to handlebar	11.6%	22
5	Not working	11.1%	21
6	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	10.5%	20
7	Excessively stiff or notchy	10%	19
8	Too low	9.5%	18
9	Has a serious fluid leak	8.9%	17
10	Significantly and obviously worn	8.4%	16

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	6.2%	111
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.2%	94
3	Excessively stiff or notchy	4.8%	86
4	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	4.4%	79
5	Significantly and obviously worn	3.3%	59
6	Tread not clearly visible	2.4%	43
7	Has a serious fluid leak	2%	36
8	Has excessive play	1.6%	29
9	Has negligible damping effect	1.5%	27
10	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.5%	26

Honda SH 125 AD-L for sale

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

Used Honda SH 125 AD-L 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 SH 125 AD-L MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda SH 125 AD-L?+

86.17% of Honda SH 125 AD-L MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,793 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda SH 125 AD-L?+

Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, which appears in 29.5% of failed tests on this model.

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.