KTM RC 125 18

125cc Petrol Class 1

#3770 of 5426 overall #170 of 230 KTMs #123 of 734 commuter bikes

79.0%

first-time pass rate

14.0%

failed outright

8,420

median miles at test

813

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The RC 125 18's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.9 points since 2021, 79.5% to 76.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RC 125 18's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage RC 125 18 passes first time 80.4% of the time; by 20k that's 74.4%.

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 18

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	77	27	4.6×
brakes	66	23.2	1.3×
structure and attachments	57	20	7.5×
tyres	29	10.2	5.0×
steering	25	8.8	5.6×
suspension	22	7.7	2.5×
Identification of the vehicle	7	2.5	3.7×
wheels	2	0.7	2.1×

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 18 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 18.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2020 (79.9% pass). Weakest: 2019 (77.9%).

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 18 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM RC 125 18 reliable?

The KTM RC 125 18 is more reliable than average for its class: 79.0% of its 813 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3770 of 5426 models.

What does a RC 125 18 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 27% of all defects recorded against failed RC 125 18 tests.

What is the best year of RC 125 18 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2020-registered examples do best (79.9%) and 2019 worst (77.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RC 125 18 last?

The median RC 125 18 shows 8,420 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 74.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.