SUZUKI DR 125 SM L0

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4859 of 5426 overall #658 of 680 SUZUKIs #445 of 734 commuter bikes

67.9%

first-time pass rate

20.6%

failed outright

11,399

median miles at test

501

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2023

The DR 125 SM L0's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.0 points since 2014, 72.7% to 67.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DR 125 SM L0's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage DR 125 SM L0 passes first time 76.2% of the time; by 20k that's 49.4%.

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 DR 125 SM L0

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	57	19.7	1.9×
lighting and signalling	46	15.9	1.5×
lamps and reflectors	36	12.4	2.9×
steering and suspension	33	11.4	1.6×
structure and attachments	28	9.7	5.8×
drive system	28	9.7	5.5×
suspension	24	8.3	5.4×
tyres and wheels	19	6.6	1.5×
tyres	11	3.8	2.6×
steering	8	2.8	3.8×

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 DR 125 SM L0 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 DR 125 SM L0.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2013 (70.6% pass). Weakest: 2011 (67.3%).

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.

SUZUKI DR 125 SM L0 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DR 125 SM L0 reliable?

The SUZUKI DR 125 SM L0 is less reliable than average for its class: 67.9% of its 501 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4859 of 5426 models.

What does a DR 125 SM L0 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 20% of all defects recorded against failed DR 125 SM L0 tests.

What is the best year of DR 125 SM L0 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (70.6%) and 2011 worst (67.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DR 125 SM L0 last?

The median DR 125 SM L0 shows 11,399 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 49.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.