KTM RC 125 16

125cc Petrol Class 1

#4540 of 5426 overall #217 of 230 KTMs #302 of 734 commuter bikes

72.5%

first-time pass rate

19.0%

failed outright

12,132

median miles at test

626

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2019–2025

The RC 125 16's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.4 points since 2019, 80.6% to 71.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RC 125 16's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage RC 125 16 passes first time 77.0% 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 RC 125 16

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	92	28.9	6.1×
brakes	72	22.6	1.8×
structure and attachments	64	20.1	11.2×
steering	29	9.1	8.1×
tyres	24	7.5	5.4×
suspension	24	7.5	4.1×
Identification of the vehicle	11	3.5	6.9×
tyres and wheels	1	0.3	0.1×
wheels	1	0.3	2.7×

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 RC 125 16 beats 3 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 RC 125 16.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (78.4% pass). Weakest: 2016 (71.6%).

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.

KTM RC 125 16 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM RC 125 16 reliable?

The KTM RC 125 16 is about average for its class: 72.5% of its 626 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4540 of 5426 models.

What does a RC 125 16 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 29% of all defects recorded against failed RC 125 16 tests.

How many miles will a RC 125 16 last?

The median RC 125 16 shows 12,132 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 66.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.