HONDA XR 125 L-5

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4810 of 5426 overall #889 of 921 HONDAs #420 of 734 commuter bikes

68.7%

first-time pass rate

19.2%

failed outright

13,600

median miles at test

2,694

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XR 125 L-5's first-time pass rate has risen 3.4 points since 2008, 71.6% to 75.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XR 125 L-5's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage XR 125 L-5 passes first time 76.2% of the time; by 50k that's 55.0%.

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 XR 125 L-5

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	408	27.8	2.2×
brakes	256	17.5	1.7×
steering and suspension	239	16.3	2.1×
lamps and reflectors	150	10.2	1.9×
drive system	112	7.6	4.2×
tyres and wheels	101	6.9	1.6×
structure and attachments	71	4.8	2.6×
fuel and exhaust	50	3.4	2.2×
suspension	44	3	1.7×
driving controls	34	2.3	5.4×

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 XR 125 L-5 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 XR 125 L-5.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (70.7% pass). Weakest: 2005 (66.2%).

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 XR 125 L-5 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR 125 L-5 reliable?

The HONDA XR 125 L-5 is less reliable than average for its class: 68.7% of its 2,694 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4810 of 5426 models.

What does a XR 125 L-5 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed XR 125 L-5 tests.

What is the best year of XR 125 L-5 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (70.7%) and 2005 worst (66.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR 125 L-5 last?

The median XR 125 L-5 shows 13,600 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 55.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.