HONDA XLR 125

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4977 of 5426 overall #906 of 921 HONDAs #504 of 734 commuter bikes

65.8%

first-time pass rate

22.4%

failed outright

13,997

median miles at test

2,485

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XLR 125's first-time pass rate has risen 7.5 points since 2005, 73.8% to 81.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XLR 125 passes first time 76.6% of the time; by 40k that's 56.1%.

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 XLR 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	603	32.5	3.2×
brakes	375	20.2	2.4×
steering and suspension	231	12.5	2.4×
drive system	170	9.2	6.2×
tyres and wheels	160	8.6	2.6×
lamps and reflectors	97	5.2	1.2×
body and structure	65	3.5	3.7×
structure and attachments	55	3	2.0×
fuel and exhaust	51	2.8	2.2×
reg plates and vin	47	2.5	2.6×

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 XLR 125 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 XLR 125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (71.3% pass). Weakest: 2002 (59.9%).

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 XLR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XLR 125 reliable?

The HONDA XLR 125 is less reliable than average for its class: 65.8% of its 2,485 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4977 of 5426 models.

What does a XLR 125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 33% of all defects recorded against failed XLR 125 tests.

What is the best year of XLR 125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (71.3%) and 2002 worst (59.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XLR 125 last?

The median XLR 125 shows 13,997 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 56.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.