KAWASAKI KH125

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4758 of 5426 overall #579 of 592 KAWASAKIs #389 of 734 commuter bikes

69.7%

first-time pass rate

20.5%

failed outright

14,404

median miles at test

2,237

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The KH125's first-time pass rate has risen 15.5 points since 2005, 57.8% to 73.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KH125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage KH125 passes first time 72.7% of the time; by 30k that's 66.7%.

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 KH125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	690	47.1	3.2×
steering and suspension	237	16.2	2.4×
brakes	176	12	1.3×
tyres and wheels	99	6.8	1.8×
lamps and reflectors	89	6.1	1.2×
drive system	68	4.6	3.3×
body and structure	37	2.5	2.8×
fuel and exhaust	33	2.3	1.6×
structure and attachments	22	1.5	1.1×
tyres	14	1	0.7×

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 KH125 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 KH125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (81.7% pass). Weakest: 1998 (61.3%).

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 KH125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KH125 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KH125 is less reliable than average for its class: 69.7% of its 2,237 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4758 of 5426 models.

What does a KH125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 47% of all defects recorded against failed KH125 tests.

What is the best year of KH125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1997-registered examples do best (81.7%) and 1998 worst (61.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KH125 last?

The median KH125 shows 14,404 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 66.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.