Yamaha X-MAX 125 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha X-MAX 125 motorcycles pass the MOT 82.78% of the time, measured across 598 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.68% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.1 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 82.78% 495 of 598
Fixed at the station 4.68% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 33,727 miles
Average age at test 6.2 years old
Engine 124cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Yamaha X-MAX 125 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 34.7% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, the next two most common reasons.
  • Age matters here: 86.99% of 3-5 year old examples pass, against 79.33% at 6-10 years - a gap of 7.7 points.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (9.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 33,727 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 86.99% 269
6-10 years 79.33% 329

Why the Yamaha X-MAX 125 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 34.7% 26
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 29.3% 22
3 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 26.7% 20
4 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 18.7% 14
5 Has a serious fluid leak 17.3% 13
6 Not working 10.7% 8
7 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 9.3% 7
8 Significantly and obviously worn 9.3% 7
9 Excessively stiff or notchy 6.7% 5
10 Grip insecure to handlebar 6.7% 5

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 9.7% 58
2 Has a serious fluid leak 7.2% 43
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7% 42
4 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 6.7% 40
5 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 6.5% 39
6 Significantly and obviously worn 5.9% 35
7 Excessively stiff or notchy 5% 30
8 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 4.5% 27
9 Tread not clearly visible 3.2% 19
10 Corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened 2.7% 16

Yamaha X-MAX 125 for sale

No Yamaha X-MAX 125 in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha 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

Yamaha X-MAX 125 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha X-MAX 125?+
82.78% of Yamaha X-MAX 125 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 598 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha X-MAX 125?+
Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, which appears in 34.7% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Yamaha X-MAX 125 get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 79.33%, against 86.99% 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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