HONDA XR 125 L-6

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4687 of 5426 overall #880 of 921 HONDAs #359 of 734 commuter bikes

70.6%

first-time pass rate

17.9%

failed outright

12,486

median miles at test

3,135

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2025

The XR 125 L-6's first-time pass rate has risen 3.1 points since 2009, 71.0% to 74.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XR 125 L-6 passes first time 76.4% of the time; by 50k that's 65.2%.

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-6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	379	23.9	1.8×
steering and suspension	268	16.9	2.0×
brakes	267	16.8	1.4×
lamps and reflectors	195	12.3	2.2×
drive system	124	7.8	3.6×
tyres and wheels	100	6.3	1.4×
structure and attachments	92	5.8	2.8×
suspension	71	4.5	2.4×
fuel and exhaust	50	3.2	1.9×
body and structure	39	2.5	2.0×

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-6 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-6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (72.2% pass). Weakest: 2006 (69.1%).

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-6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR 125 L-6 reliable?

The HONDA XR 125 L-6 is less reliable than average for its class: 70.6% of its 3,135 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4687 of 5426 models.

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

lighting and signalling — 24% of all defects recorded against failed XR 125 L-6 tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (72.2%) and 2006 worst (69.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR 125 L-6 last?

The median XR 125 L-6 shows 12,486 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 65.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.