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

GILERA SC 125

124cc Petrol Class 1
#5227 of 5428 overall #22 of 28 GILERAs #629 of 734 commuter bikes
59.6%
first-time pass rate
29.2%
failed outright
7,126
median miles at test
995
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-14.1pp
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 · 2010–2018

The SC 125's first-time pass rate has risen 11.0 points since 2010, 49.0% to 60.0%.

45%57%68%2010: 49.0% pass (51 tests)2011: 57.1% pass (147 tests)2012: 59.5% pass (153 tests)2013: 52.7% pass (131 tests)2014: 62.5% pass (120 tests)2015: 59.2% pass (103 tests)2016: 64.5% pass (62 tests)2017: 56.6% pass (53 tests)2018: 60.0% pass (35 tests)20102018

What fails on a SC 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
273 28.5 3.9×
brakes
182 19 2.8×
steering and suspension
174 18.1 4.0×
drive system
94 9.8 9.6×
body and structure
63 6.6 8.6×
tyres and wheels
60 6.3 2.6×
lamps and reflectors
40 4.2 1.3×
structure and attachments
37 3.9 2.9×
fuel and exhaust
25 2.6 2.9×
suspension
11 1.1 1.4×

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 SC 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 SC 125.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the SC 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: 2006 (70.1% pass). Weakest: 2007 (50.7%).

47%60%74%2006: 70.1% pass (77 tests)2007: 50.7% pass (276 tests)2008: 62.1% pass (630 tests)200620072008

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 SC 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the GILERA SC 125 reliable?

The GILERA SC 125 is less reliable than average for its class: 59.6% of its 995 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5227 of 5428 models.

What does a SC 125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed SC 125 tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (70.1%) and 2007 worst (50.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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