BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BULLIT/SPIRIT 125
Model report · 2005–2025

BULLIT SPIRIT 125

125cc Petrol Class 1
#5311 of 5428 overall #5 of 5 BULLITs #675 of 734 commuter bikes
56.8%
first-time pass rate
32.1%
failed outright
2,554
median miles at test
234
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-21.1pp
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 · 2022–2025

The SPIRIT 125's first-time pass rate has risen 3.6 points since 2022, 55.6% to 59.2%.

54%58%61%2022: 55.6% pass (45 tests)2023: 60.0% pass (45 tests)2024: 55.0% pass (60 tests)2025: 59.2% pass (49 tests)20222025

What fails on a SPIRIT 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lamps and reflectors
99 43.2
brakes
62 27.1
suspension
30 13.1
structure and attachments
22 9.6
steering
6 2.6
Identification of the vehicle
5 2.2
wheels
3 1.3
tyres
2 0.9

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

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

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 SPIRIT 125.

Compare with any bike

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

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (63.5% pass). Weakest: 2019 (54.9%).

53%59%65%2018: 63.5% pass (63 tests)2019: 54.9% pass (51 tests)20182019

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.

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