Yamaha DT125 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha DT125 motorcycles pass the MOT 80.33% of the time, measured across 961 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.08% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 6.5 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 80.33% 772 of 961

Fixed at the station 7.08% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 19,347 miles

Average age at test 24.65 years old

Engine 124cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha DT125 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 53.7% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and not working on dipped beam, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is excessively loose (4.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 19,347 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
16+ years	79.87%		914

Why the Yamaha DT125 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	Not working	53.7%	65
2	Missing	52.9%	64
3	Not working on dipped beam	13.2%	16
4	Has a serious fluid leak	10.7%	13
5	Too low	10.7%	13
6	Does not conform to the specified requirements	9.9%	12
7	Insecure	9.1%	11
8	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	8.3%	10
9	Not working on main beam	8.3%	10
10	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	8.3%	10

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	Excessively loose	4.2%	40
2	Excessively distorted	3.3%	32
3	Has excessive wear or free play	3.2%	31
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.1%	30
5	Has excessive play	3%	29
6	Significantly and obviously worn	3%	29
7	Spoke excessively loose	2.8%	27
8	Component pin or bush excessively worn	2.5%	24
9	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.4%	23
10	Has a serious fluid leak	2.2%	21

Yamaha DT125 for sale

No Yamaha DT125 in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha DT125 Used Yamaha All Yamaha Yamaha 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

Yamaha DT125 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha DT125?+

80.33% of Yamaha DT125 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 961 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha DT125?+

Not working, which appears in 53.7% 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.