HONDA CM125C

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4929 of 5426 overall #903 of 921 HONDAs #481 of 734 commuter bikes

66.6%

first-time pass rate

22.1%

failed outright

25,148

median miles at test

3,070

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The CM125C's first-time pass rate has risen 13.5 points since 2005, 67.6% to 81.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CM125C's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage CM125C passes first time 77.7% of the time; by 50k that's 64.5%.

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 CM125C

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	563	26.5	2.6×
steering and suspension	507	23.9	3.4×
brakes	251	11.8	1.4×
drive system	171	8.1	5.7×
tyres and wheels	162	7.6	2.1×
body and structure	154	7.3	7.2×
fuel and exhaust	99	4.7	3.5×
lamps and reflectors	98	4.6	1.1×
structure and attachments	65	3.1	2.1×
reg plates and vin	51	2.4	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 CM125C 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 CM125C.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (75.1% pass). Weakest: 1986 (61.5%).

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 CM125C FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CM125C reliable?

The HONDA CM125C is less reliable than average for its class: 66.6% of its 3,070 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4929 of 5426 models.

What does a CM125C fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 27% of all defects recorded against failed CM125C tests.

What is the best year of CM125C to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (75.1%) and 1986 worst (61.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CM125C last?

The median CM125C shows 25,148 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 64.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.