KTM RC 125 17

125cc Petrol Class 1

#4077 of 5426 overall #188 of 230 KTMs #184 of 734 commuter bikes

76.9%

first-time pass rate

14.8%

failed outright

9,503

median miles at test

857

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2020–2025

The RC 125 17's first-time pass rate has fallen 23.7 points since 2020, 93.4% to 69.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RC 125 17's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage RC 125 17 passes first time 80.1% of the time; by 20k that's 71.6%.

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 17

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
structure and attachments	83	24.1	9.5×
lamps and reflectors	80	23.2	4.1×
brakes	78	22.6	1.7×
steering	34	9.9	6.2×
suspension	30	8.7	3.6×
tyres	29	8.4	4.3×
Identification of the vehicle	7	2	3.5×
wheels	4	1.2	7.8×

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 17 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 RC 125 17.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (82.3% pass). Weakest: 2018 (70.8%).

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.

KTM RC 125 17 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM RC 125 17 reliable?

The KTM RC 125 17 is more reliable than average for its class: 76.9% of its 857 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4077 of 5426 models.

What does a RC 125 17 fail its MOT on most?

structure and attachments — 24% of all defects recorded against failed RC 125 17 tests.

How many miles will a RC 125 17 last?

The median RC 125 17 shows 9,503 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 71.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.