HONGDOU 125

125cc Petrol Class 1

#5173 of 5426 overall #2 of 2 HONGDOUs #605 of 734 commuter bikes

61.2%

first-time pass rate

24.5%

failed outright

4,193

median miles at test

554

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2012

The 125's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.8 points since 2006, 61.0% to 54.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage 125 passes first time 63.3% of the time; by 20k that's 58.3%.

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 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	160	32.2	3.3×
steering and suspension	111	22.3	3.8×
brakes	83	16.7	2.3×
tyres and wheels	58	11.7	3.2×
drive system	30	6	5.8×
body and structure	17	3.4	5.6×
fuel and exhaust	10	2	2.4×
structure and attachments	10	2	1.3×
steering	10	2	3.0×
suspension	8	1.6	1.5×

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 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 125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (69.3% pass). Weakest: 2005 (50.8%).

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.

HONGDOU 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONGDOU 125 reliable?

The HONGDOU 125 is less reliable than average for its class: 61.2% of its 554 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5173 of 5426 models.

What does a 125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed 125 tests.

What is the best year of 125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (69.3%) and 2005 worst (50.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 125 last?

The median 125 shows 4,193 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 58.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.