BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HONDA/CBR 125 RW-6
Model report · 2005–2025
64.8%
first-time pass rate
25.9%
failed outright
12,434
median miles at test
4,394
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2025

The CBR 125 RW-6's first-time pass rate has fallen 15.0 points since 2009, 75.8% to 60.8%.

53%67%80%2009: 75.8% pass (198 tests)2010: 74.5% pass (475 tests)2011: 68.6% pass (522 tests)2012: 64.7% pass (485 tests)2013: 64.3% pass (423 tests)2014: 61.1% pass (411 tests)2015: 62.6% pass (356 tests)2016: 58.5% pass (299 tests)2017: 59.6% pass (255 tests)2018: 63.2% pass (163 tests)2019: 58.7% pass (150 tests)2020: 61.2% pass (129 tests)2021: 61.3% pass (137 tests)2022: 68.9% pass (122 tests)2023: 57.6% pass (125 tests)2024: 61.8% pass (68 tests)2025: 60.8% pass (74 tests)20092025

Pass rate by mileage

how the CBR 125 RW-6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage CBR 125 RW-6 passes first time 73.3% of the time; by 40k that's 60.0%.

55%66%76%0k: 73.3% pass (1,717 tests)10k: 59.5% pass (1,623 tests)20k: 59.5% pass (740 tests)30k: 58.2% pass (213 tests)40k: 60.0% pass (50 tests)0k20k40k

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-6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
772 25.1 2.9×
lighting and signalling
606 19.7 2.1×
steering and suspension
439 14.3 2.4×
tyres and wheels
357 11.6 3.1×
drive system
292 9.5 7.1×
lamps and reflectors
233 7.6 2.0×
structure and attachments
156 5.1 3.6×
suspension
82 2.7 1.9×
tyres
79 2.6 2.1×
body and structure
62 2 2.4×

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 CBR 125 RW-6 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-6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (65.4% pass). Weakest: 2008 (60.8%).

60%63%66%2006: 64.1% pass (1,819 tests)2007: 65.4% pass (2,501 tests)2008: 60.8% pass (74 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.

HONDA CBR 125 RW-6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CBR 125 RW-6 reliable?

The HONDA CBR 125 RW-6 is less reliable than average for its class: 64.8% of its 4,394 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5024 of 5426 models.

What does a CBR 125 RW-6 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed CBR 125 RW-6 tests.

What is the best year of CBR 125 RW-6 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (65.4%) and 2008 worst (60.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CBR 125 RW-6 last?

The median CBR 125 RW-6 shows 12,434 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 60.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.