Yamaha YZF R125 MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha YZF R125 motorcycles pass the MOT 71.56% of the time, measured across 1,825 tests in the DVSA record. A further 8.6% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with missing - it accounts for 35.4% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working and has a serious fluid leak, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 77.39% of 3-5 year old examples pass, against 64.58% at 16+ years - a gap of 12.8 points.
- The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (18% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 17,753 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 | 77.39% | 482 | |
| 6-10 years | 72.76% | 870 | |
| 11-15 years | 61.79% | 301 | |
| 16+ years | 64.58% | 144 |
Why the Yamaha YZF R125 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 | Missing | 35.4% | 128 | |
| 2 | Not working | 22.4% | 81 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 19.3% | 70 | |
| 4 | Has excessive wear or free play | 18.2% | 66 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 16.6% | 60 | |
| 6 | Excessively loose | 15.5% | 56 | |
| 7 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 12.2% | 44 | |
| 8 | Flashing more than 120 times a minute | 8.3% | 30 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 7.5% | 27 | |
| 10 | Insecure | 7.5% | 27 |
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 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 18% | 328 | |
| 2 | Excessively loose | 8.6% | 157 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 7.4% | 135 | |
| 4 | Worn to excess | 5.7% | 104 | |
| 5 | Has excessive wear or free play | 5.7% | 104 | |
| 6 | Has a serious fluid leak | 4.9% | 90 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 4.9% | 90 | |
| 8 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 3.9% | 72 | |
| 9 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 2.4% | 44 | |
| 10 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.1% | 39 |
Yamaha YZF R125 for sale
No Yamaha YZF R125 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