BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BAOTIAN/BT 125
Model report · 2005–2025

BAOTIAN BT 125

125cc Petrol Class 1
#4877 of 5428 overall #3 of 17 BAOTIANs #453 of 734 commuter bikes
67.6%
first-time pass rate
25.9%
failed outright
5,098
median miles at test
903
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-8.5pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2017–2025

The BT 125's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.3 points since 2017, 74.5% to 69.2%.

48%64%80%2017: 74.5% pass (141 tests)2018: 70.8% pass (106 tests)2019: 65.8% pass (120 tests)2020: 71.0% pass (138 tests)2021: 65.5% pass (110 tests)2022: 72.2% pass (90 tests)2023: 60.0% pass (60 tests)2024: 53.3% pass (45 tests)2025: 69.2% pass (39 tests)20172025

What fails on a BT 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
170 24.5 6.5×
suspension
130 18.8 14.1×
brakes
124 17.9 2.3×
structure and attachments
55 7.9 6.8×
lighting and signalling
53 7.6 0.9×
tyres
49 7.1 6.3×
steering and suspension
44 6.3 1.0×
steering
26 3.8 6.4×
tyres and wheels
24 3.5 1.2×
audible warning (Horn)
18 2.6 10.9×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the BT 125 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the BT 125.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the BT 125

More BAOTIAN models

other BAOTIAN bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
BAOTIAN BT 49 QT-9 64.9% pass · 2,409 tests
BAOTIAN BT 49 QT-9D 66.1% pass · 2,374 tests
BAOTIAN BT 50 QT-9 62.0% pass · 1,910 tests
BAOTIAN BT 49 67.6% pass · 1,236 tests
BAOTIAN BT 125 T-21 66.7% pass · 888 tests
BAOTIAN BT 50 QT-11 64.2% pass · 653 tests

See all BAOTIAN models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2017 (76.7% pass). Weakest: 2013 (54.9%).

51%66%81%2012: 68.9% pass (74 tests)2013: 54.9% pass (71 tests)2014: 72.1% pass (330 tests)2015: 60.5% pass (119 tests)2016: 64.8% pass (128 tests)2017: 76.7% pass (60 tests)201220152017

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

BAOTIAN BT 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BAOTIAN BT 125 reliable?

The BAOTIAN BT 125 is less reliable than average for its class: 67.6% of its 903 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4877 of 5428 models.

What does a BT 125 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 25% of all defects recorded against failed BT 125 tests.

What is the best year of BT 125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (76.7%) and 2013 worst (54.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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