BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/GS125
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI GS125

124cc Petrol Class 1
#5079 of 5428 overall #673 of 680 SUZUKIs #551 of 734 commuter bikes
63.6%
first-time pass rate
24.9%
failed outright
21,020
median miles at test
4,511
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-9.3pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The GS125's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.8 points since 2005, 62.8% to 60.0%.

45%63%80%2005: 62.8% pass (113 tests)2006: 67.5% pass (508 tests)2007: 67.8% pass (394 tests)2008: 67.7% pass (396 tests)2009: 61.6% pass (359 tests)2010: 61.9% pass (352 tests)2011: 61.3% pass (320 tests)2012: 60.2% pass (309 tests)2013: 61.1% pass (303 tests)2014: 57.0% pass (286 tests)2015: 63.6% pass (228 tests)2016: 57.6% pass (165 tests)2017: 62.7% pass (166 tests)2018: 62.4% pass (109 tests)2019: 51.2% pass (84 tests)2020: 74.6% pass (71 tests)2021: 67.4% pass (95 tests)2022: 74.1% pass (81 tests)2023: 71.6% pass (74 tests)2024: 72.9% pass (48 tests)2025: 60.0% pass (50 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage GS125 passes first time 71.7% of the time; by 50k that's 59.3%.

56%65%74%0k: 71.7% pass (845 tests)10k: 65.3% pass (1,264 tests)20k: 60.5% pass (1,258 tests)30k: 58.8% pass (706 tests)40k: 61.1% pass (262 tests)50k: 59.3% pass (91 tests)0k30k50k

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 GS125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
1,100 29.6 3.4×
steering and suspension
763 20.5 3.4×
brakes
568 15.3 2.1×
drive system
409 11 8.1×
tyres and wheels
276 7.4 2.6×
body and structure
225 6 7.8×
lamps and reflectors
129 3.5 0.9×
fuel and exhaust
119 3.2 3.2×
structure and attachments
81 2.2 1.7×
driving controls
50 1.3 4.6×

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 GS125 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 GS125.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the GS125

More SUZUKI models

other SUZUKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
SUZUKI GSXR600 76.7% pass · 149k tests
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests
SUZUKI GSXR750 79.8% pass · 99.2k tests
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests
SUZUKI GSXR1000 83.8% pass · 97.5k tests
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

See all SUZUKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1998 (71.1%). Lowest: 2003 (52.8%). Every GS125 year compared →

49%62%75%1982: 61.5% pass (174 tests)1983: 65.1% pass (361 tests)1984: 59.6% pass (240 tests)1985: 65.6% pass (160 tests)1986: 62.8% pass (207 tests)1987: 59.6% pass (94 tests)1988: 54.4% pass (103 tests)1989: 66.5% pass (173 tests)1990: 69.3% pass (202 tests)1991: 69.1% pass (165 tests)1992: 58.3% pass (192 tests)1993: 59.2% pass (147 tests)1994: 62.5% pass (248 tests)1995: 65.7% pass (172 tests)1996: 61.0% pass (246 tests)1997: 61.1% pass (193 tests)1998: 71.1% pass (204 tests)1999: 69.1% pass (207 tests)2000: 63.9% pass (360 tests)2001: 63.0% pass (162 tests)2002: 70.4% pass (186 tests)2003: 52.8% pass (72 tests)2005: 65.6% pass (61 tests)2007: 59.3% pass (54 tests)198219942007

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 GS125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS125 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS125 is less reliable than average for its class: 63.6% of its 4,511 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5079 of 5428 models.

What does a GS125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 30% of all defects recorded against failed GS125 tests.

What is the best year of GS125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (71.1%) and 2003 worst (52.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS125 last?

The median GS125 shows 21,020 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 59.3% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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