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League table/ HONDA/NS125R-K
Model report · 2005–2025

HONDA NS125R-K

124cc Petrol Class 1
#5360 of 5428 overall #920 of 920 HONDAs #703 of 734 commuter bikes
53.0%
first-time pass rate
38.5%
failed outright
21,462
median miles at test
304
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-19.9pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The NS125R-K's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.8 points since 2006, 50.0% to 45.2%.

38%54%69%2006: 50.0% pass (66 tests)2007: 43.5% pass (46 tests)2008: 63.9% pass (36 tests)2009: 45.2% pass (31 tests)20062009

Pass rate by mileage

how the NS125R-K's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage NS125R-K passes first time 63.3% of the time; by 30k that's 52.5%.

50%58%65%0k: 63.3% pass (30 tests)10k: 53.8% pass (93 tests)20k: 53.5% pass (101 tests)30k: 52.5% pass (59 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 NS125R-K

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
steering and suspension
197 38.6
lighting and signalling
136 26.7
brakes
62 12.2
drive system
29 5.7
body and structure
23 4.5
tyres and wheels
23 4.5
fuel and exhaust
20 3.9
reg plates and vin
14 2.7
structure and attachments
4 0.8
lamps and reflectors
2 0.4

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 NS125R-K beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 NS125R-K.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the NS125R-K

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (57.1% pass). Weakest: 1989 (51.5%).

50%54%58%1989: 51.5% pass (130 tests)1990: 57.1% pass (63 tests)19891990

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.

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