HONDA CB125S

122cc Petrol Class 1

#3975 of 5426 overall #753 of 921 HONDAs #179 of 205 naked bikes

77.5%

first-time pass rate

10.3%

failed outright

18,805

median miles at test

622

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The CB125S's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (74.5% → 74.5%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the CB125S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage CB125S passes first time 76.4% of the time; by 40k that's 59.4%.

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 CB125S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	102	52	1.5×
steering and suspension	26	13.3	1.0×
tyres and wheels	26	13.3	1.6×
brakes	15	7.7	0.4×
drive system	13	6.6	2.2×
fuel and exhaust	4	2	0.8×
driving controls	4	2	2.7×
reg plates and vin	3	1.5	0.8×
body and structure	3	1.5	1.0×

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 CB125S beats 0 of its 1 closest rivals (HONDA CB125F).

HONDA CB125F 81.2% pass · 30.6k 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 CB125S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1975 (83.1% pass). Weakest: 1973 (74.2%).

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.

HONDA CB125S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CB125S reliable?

The HONDA CB125S is more reliable than average for its class: 77.5% of its 622 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3975 of 5426 models.

What does a CB125S fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 52% of all defects recorded against failed CB125S tests.

What is the best year of CB125S to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1975-registered examples do best (83.1%) and 1973 worst (74.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CB125S last?

The median CB125S shows 18,805 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 59.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.