BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ GILERA/DNA 125
Model report · 2005–2025

GILERA DNA 125

124cc Petrol Class 1
#5026 of 5428 overall #16 of 28 GILERAs #523 of 734 commuter bikes
64.8%
first-time pass rate
29.3%
failed outright
7,576
median miles at test
974
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-7.2pp
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 · 2005–2009

The DNA 125's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.3 points since 2005, 68.5% to 65.2%.

57%64%71%2005: 68.5% pass (54 tests)2006: 68.0% pass (253 tests)2007: 59.3% pass (241 tests)2008: 66.9% pass (172 tests)2009: 65.2% pass (69 tests)20052009

What fails on a DNA 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
steering and suspension
295 34.2 6.1×
lighting and signalling
237 27.5 3.8×
brakes
107 12.4 1.8×
tyres and wheels
75 8.7 3.5×
body and structure
54 6.3 9.2×
fuel and exhaust
39 4.5 4.5×
Items Not Tested
19 2.2 15.6×
lamps and reflectors
15 1.7 0.5×
suspension
11 1.3 1.1×
reg plates and vin
10 1.2 1.6×

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 DNA 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 DNA 125.

Compare with any bike

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

More GILERA models

other GILERA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k tests
GILERA DNA 64.8% pass · 19.3k tests
GILERA STALKER 65.3% pass · 5,858 tests
GILERA COUGAR 58.7% pass · 5,832 tests
GILERA RUNNER 125 69.0% pass · 4,407 tests
GILERA ICE 63.0% pass · 3,278 tests

See all GILERA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (69.4% pass). Weakest: 2001 (61.4%).

60%65%71%2001: 61.4% pass (264 tests)2002: 63.6% pass (412 tests)2003: 69.4% pass (278 tests)200120022003

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.

GILERA DNA 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the GILERA DNA 125 reliable?

The GILERA DNA 125 is less reliable than average for its class: 64.8% of its 974 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5026 of 5428 models.

What does a DNA 125 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 34% of all defects recorded against failed DNA 125 tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (69.4%) and 2001 worst (61.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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