BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HONDA/FES 125-B
Model report · 2005–2025

HONDA FES 125-B

125cc Petrol Class 1
81.2%
first-time pass rate
12.9%
failed outright
16,629
median miles at test
410
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2019

The FES 125-B's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.2 points since 2014, 86.5% to 81.3%.

76%83%90%2014: 86.5% pass (52 tests)2015: 79.3% pass (58 tests)2016: 80.0% pass (55 tests)2017: 78.0% pass (41 tests)2018: 87.9% pass (33 tests)2019: 81.3% pass (32 tests)20142019

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FES 125-B passes first time 90.1% of the time; by 30k that's 77.8%.

73%83%93%0k: 90.1% pass (91 tests)10k: 82.0% pass (161 tests)20k: 76.1% pass (71 tests)30k: 77.8% pass (36 tests)0k20k30k

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 FES 125-B

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
43 35.2
lamps and reflectors
22 18
lighting and signalling
18 14.8
tyres and wheels
11 9
tyres
10 8.2
suspension
8 6.6
steering and suspension
5 4.1
steering
3 2.5
Identification of the vehicle
1 0.8
Items Not Tested
1 0.8

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the FES 125-B beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

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 FES 125-B.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (81.3% pass). Weakest: 2011 (81.3%).

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.