Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) motorcycles pass the MOT 85.67% of the time, measured across 914 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.89% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.2 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 85.67% 783 of 914
Fixed at the station 6.89% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 6,530 miles
Average age at test 3.25 years old
Engine 124cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps - it accounts for 35.3% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and excessively loose, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 6,530 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 85.67% 914

Why the Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) 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 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 35.3% 24
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 35.3% 24
3 Excessively loose 33.8% 23
4 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 30.9% 21
5 Missing 16.2% 11
6 Too high 14.7% 10
7 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 14.7% 10
8 So loose it is likely to fail 10.3% 7
9 Not working 8.8% 6
10 Has a serious fluid leak 7.4% 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 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4.7% 43
2 Excessively loose 4.2% 38
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 3.4% 31
4 Worn to excess 3% 27
5 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 2.6% 24
6 Sprocket worn to excess 1.9% 17
7 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 1.5% 14
8 Tread not clearly visible 1.5% 14
9 Has excessive wear or free play 1.4% 13
10 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.4% 13

Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) for sale

No Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) in stock at the moment - 84 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 XSR 125 (MTM125) MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125)?+
85.67% of Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125) MOT tests end in a pass, based on 914 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XSR 125 (MTM125)?+
Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, which appears in 35.3% 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.
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