LIFAN LF 125-J

124cc Petrol Class 1

#5319 of 5426 overall #12 of 15 LIFANs #682 of 734 commuter bikes

56.2%

first-time pass rate

29.3%

failed outright

7,136

median miles at test

1,282

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2017

The LF 125-J's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.1 points since 2009, 69.8% to 61.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage LF 125-J passes first time 58.2% of the time; by 20k that's 53.2%.

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 LF 125-J

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	668	47.5	5.6×
steering and suspension	200	14.2	3.5×
brakes	175	12.4	2.1×
drive system	134	9.5	10.6×
tyres and wheels	75	5.3	2.6×
body and structure	52	3.7	7.0×
lamps and reflectors	33	2.3	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	32	2.3	3.1×
structure and attachments	20	1.4	1.4×
driving controls	17	1.2	5.6×

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 LF 125-J 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 LF 125-J.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (59.5% pass). Weakest: 2006 (52.7%).

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.

LIFAN LF 125-J FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the LIFAN LF 125-J reliable?

The LIFAN LF 125-J is less reliable than average for its class: 56.2% of its 1,282 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5319 of 5426 models.

What does a LF 125-J fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 48% of all defects recorded against failed LF 125-J tests.

What is the best year of LF 125-J to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (59.5%) and 2006 worst (52.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a LF 125-J last?

The median LF 125-J shows 7,136 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 53.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.