HONDA SL125

122cc Petrol Class 1

#3557 of 5426 overall #628 of 921 HONDAs #98 of 734 commuter bikes

80.1%

first-time pass rate

7.5%

failed outright

13,384

median miles at test

201

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the SL125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage SL125 passes first time 90.0% of the time; by 20k that's 78.8%.

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 SL125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	17	33.3
tyres and wheels	9	17.6
lamps and reflectors	6	11.8
steering and suspension	5	9.8
structure and attachments	4	7.8
body and structure	3	5.9
drive system	2	3.9
fuel and exhaust	2	3.9
brakes	2	3.9
steering	1	2

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 SL125 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 SL125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1975 (83.3% pass). Weakest: 1971 (78.7%).

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.