HONDA SH 125-6

125cc Petrol Class 1

#3805 of 5426 overall #699 of 921 HONDAs #130 of 734 commuter bikes

78.8%

first-time pass rate

13.2%

failed outright

15,858

median miles at test

3,116

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The SH 125-6's first-time pass rate has risen 16.2 points since 2008, 65.6% to 81.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage SH 125-6 passes first time 84.8% of the time; by 50k that's 74.5%.

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 SH 125-6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	333	37	1.7×
lighting and signalling	165	18.3	1.1×
tyres and wheels	137	15.2	1.9×
steering and suspension	96	10.7	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	86	9.5	1.1×
tyres	25	2.8	1.0×
suspension	17	1.9	0.5×
reg plates and vin	16	1.8	0.8×
steering	15	1.7	0.8×
structure and attachments	11	1.2	0.5×

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 SH 125-6 beats 4 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 SH 125-6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (79.4% pass). Weakest: 2005 (77.7%).

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 SH 125-6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA SH 125-6 reliable?

The HONDA SH 125-6 is more reliable than average for its class: 78.8% of its 3,116 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3805 of 5426 models.

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

brakes — 37% of all defects recorded against failed SH 125-6 tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (79.4%) and 2005 worst (77.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SH 125-6 last?

The median SH 125-6 shows 15,858 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 74.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.