HARTFORD HD-125L

124cc Petrol Class 1

#5016 of 5426 overall #3 of 4 HARTFORDs #519 of 734 commuter bikes

65.0%

first-time pass rate

20.8%

failed outright

9,149

median miles at test

1,419

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The HD-125L's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.0 points since 2006, 67.5% to 59.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage HD-125L passes first time 69.4% of the time; by 30k that's 46.7%.

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-125L

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	340	37	2.8×
steering and suspension	148	16.1	2.5×
brakes	126	13.7	1.6×
drive system	119	13	7.4×
body and structure	47	5.1	5.1×
lamps and reflectors	44	4.8	0.9×
tyres and wheels	37	4	1.1×
structure and attachments	28	3.1	2.1×
fuel and exhaust	17	1.9	1.5×
reg plates and vin	12	1.3	1.5×

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 HD-125L beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

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

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-125L.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (69.0% pass). Weakest: 1999 (60.3%).

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.

HARTFORD HD-125L FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARTFORD HD-125L reliable?

The HARTFORD HD-125L is less reliable than average for its class: 65.0% of its 1,419 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5016 of 5426 models.

What does a HD-125L fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed HD-125L tests.

What is the best year of HD-125L to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (69.0%) and 1999 worst (60.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a HD-125L last?

The median HD-125L shows 9,149 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 46.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.