BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HARTFORD/HD 125 S
Model report · 2005–2025

HARTFORD HD 125 S

124cc Petrol Class 1
#4960 of 5428 overall #1 of 4 HARTFORDs #495 of 734 commuter bikes
66.1%
first-time pass rate
22.7%
failed outright
12,163
median miles at test
436
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-5.6pp
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 · 2009–2014

The HD 125 S's first-time pass rate has fallen 20.1 points since 2009, 73.9% to 53.8%.

47%67%87%2009: 73.9% pass (46 tests)2010: 80.0% pass (50 tests)2011: 60.4% pass (53 tests)2012: 71.8% pass (39 tests)2013: 63.3% pass (49 tests)2014: 53.8% pass (39 tests)20092014

Pass rate by mileage

how the HD 125 S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage HD 125 S passes first time 68.5% of the time; by 20k that's 73.0%.

58%67%76%0k: 68.5% pass (181 tests)10k: 60.1% pass (158 tests)20k: 73.0% pass (63 tests)0k10k20k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a HD 125 S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
84 28.7
brakes
57 19.5
steering and suspension
33 11.3
lamps and reflectors
27 9.2
drive system
23 7.8
tyres and wheels
21 7.2
body and structure
20 6.8
structure and attachments
16 5.5
driving controls
6 2
suspension
6 2

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 HD 125 S 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 HD 125 S.

Compare with any bike

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

More HARTFORD models

other HARTFORD bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HARTFORD HD-125L 65.0% pass · 1,419 tests
HARTFORD VR125H 59.5% pass · 550 tests
HARTFORD VR125Z 65.8% pass · 243 tests
HARTFORD HD 200 S 81.9% pass · 177 tests
HARTFORD VR150H 62.9% pass · 140 tests

See all HARTFORD models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (69.8% pass). Weakest: 2005 (61.5%).

60%66%71%2005: 61.5% pass (200 tests)2006: 69.8% pass (116 tests)2007: 65.8% pass (73 tests)200520062007

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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