Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
HONDA CBR 125 RW-5
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
The CBR 125 RW-5's first-time pass rate has fallen 20.3 points since 2008, 75.6% to 55.3%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage CBR 125 RW-5 passes first time 75.8% of the time; by 40k that's 57.4%.
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 CBR 125 RW-5
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brakes |
|
677 | 23.4 | 2.8× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
598 | 20.6 | 2.3× |
| steering and suspension |
|
414 | 14.3 | 2.6× |
| drive system |
|
341 | 11.8 | 8.5× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
322 | 11.1 | 3.3× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
197 | 6.8 | 1.9× |
| structure and attachments |
|
127 | 4.4 | 3.0× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
87 | 3 | 2.5× |
| body and structure |
|
79 | 2.7 | 3.5× |
| steering |
|
57 | 2 | 2.7× |
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
On first-time pass rate the CBR 125 RW-5 beats 0 of its 3 closest rivals (YAMAHA YZF-R125, HONDA CBR125R, HONDA CBR 125 R-4).
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 CBR 125 RW-5.
Compare with any bike
More HONDA models
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2007 (70.6%). Lowest: 2004 (59.7%). Every CBR 125 RW-5 year compared →
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 CBR 125 RW-5 FAQ
Is the HONDA CBR 125 RW-5 reliable?
The HONDA CBR 125 RW-5 is less reliable than average for its class: 64.7% of its 3,981 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5031 of 5428 models.
What does a CBR 125 RW-5 fail its MOT on most?
brakes: 23% of all defects recorded against failed CBR 125 RW-5 tests.
What is the best year of CBR 125 RW-5 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (70.6%) and 2004 worst (59.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a CBR 125 RW-5 last?
The median CBR 125 RW-5 shows 12,840 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 57.4% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.
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