KAWASAKI BN125A7

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4210 of 5426 overall #512 of 592 KAWASAKIs #213 of 734 commuter bikes

75.8%

first-time pass rate

14.8%

failed outright

7,732

median miles at test

1,453

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The BN125A7's first-time pass rate has risen 10.8 points since 2008, 82.7% to 93.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the BN125A7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage BN125A7 passes first time 81.5% of the time; by 20k that's 58.9%.

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 BN125A7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	174	33.8	2.0×
drive system	80	15.5	5.6×
lighting and signalling	72	14	0.9×
steering and suspension	67	13	1.3×
tyres and wheels	34	6.6	1.0×
structure and attachments	32	6.2	1.8×
fuel and exhaust	21	4.1	1.7×
lamps and reflectors	13	2.5	0.5×
body and structure	12	2.3	1.4×
reg plates and vin	10	1.9	1.2×

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 BN125A7 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 BN125A7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (85.3% pass). Weakest: 2006 (72.2%).

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.

KAWASAKI BN125A7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI BN125A7 reliable?

The KAWASAKI BN125A7 is more reliable than average for its class: 75.8% of its 1,453 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4210 of 5426 models.

What does a BN125A7 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 34% of all defects recorded against failed BN125A7 tests.

What is the best year of BN125A7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (85.3%) and 2006 worst (72.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a BN125A7 last?

The median BN125A7 shows 7,732 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 58.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.