RIEJU MARATHON

124cc Petrol Class 1

#5218 of 5426 overall #6 of 16 RIEJUs #626 of 734 commuter bikes

59.9%

first-time pass rate

28.7%

failed outright

4,951

median miles at test

1,020

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2017–2025

The MARATHON's first-time pass rate has risen 6.6 points since 2017, 52.4% to 59.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage MARATHON passes first time 61.0% of the time; by 20k that's 58.7%.

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 MARATHON

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	399	38	11.2×
brakes	175	16.7	2.6×
structure and attachments	143	13.6	13.6×
suspension	102	9.7	10.5×
tyres	57	5.4	7.0×
steering	49	4.7	8.5×
lighting and signalling	46	4.4	0.6×
Identification of the vehicle	30	2.9	12.3×
audible warning (Horn)	24	2.3	12.9×
steering and suspension	24	2.3	0.5×

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 MARATHON 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 MARATHON.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (66.9% pass). Weakest: 2013 (49.1%).

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.

RIEJU MARATHON FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the RIEJU MARATHON reliable?

The RIEJU MARATHON is less reliable than average for its class: 59.9% of its 1,020 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5218 of 5426 models.

What does a MARATHON fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 38% of all defects recorded against failed MARATHON tests.

What is the best year of MARATHON to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (66.9%) and 2013 worst (49.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a MARATHON last?

The median MARATHON shows 4,951 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 58.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.