BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/TS125
Model report · 2005–2025

SUZUKI TS125

124cc Petrol Class 1
#4760 of 5428 overall #647 of 680 SUZUKIs #389 of 734 commuter bikes
69.7%
first-time pass rate
20.3%
failed outright
15,546
median miles at test
2,282
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-6.7pp
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 TS125's first-time pass rate has risen 25.1 points since 2005, 60.0% to 85.1%.

54%73%92%2005: 60.0% pass (60 tests)2006: 62.1% pass (214 tests)2007: 67.7% pass (155 tests)2008: 66.2% pass (157 tests)2009: 60.8% pass (148 tests)2010: 64.2% pass (137 tests)2011: 61.5% pass (135 tests)2012: 68.2% pass (154 tests)2013: 63.5% pass (126 tests)2014: 70.0% pass (120 tests)2015: 70.5% pass (122 tests)2016: 78.9% pass (114 tests)2017: 74.2% pass (120 tests)2018: 81.3% pass (75 tests)2019: 73.0% pass (63 tests)2020: 78.8% pass (66 tests)2021: 81.3% pass (80 tests)2022: 80.9% pass (68 tests)2023: 85.7% pass (63 tests)2024: 77.6% pass (58 tests)2025: 85.1% pass (47 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

how the TS125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage TS125 passes first time 76.7% of the time; by 40k that's 69.4%.

62%71%79%0k: 76.7% pass (721 tests)10k: 67.7% pass (780 tests)20k: 64.3% pass (521 tests)30k: 68.7% pass (134 tests)40k: 69.4% pass (49 tests)0k20k40k

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 TS125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
650 37.9 3.1×
steering and suspension
336 19.6 3.1×
brakes
218 12.7 1.6×
drive system
126 7.4 5.2×
tyres and wheels
114 6.7 1.9×
fuel and exhaust
77 4.5 3.7×
lamps and reflectors
62 3.6 0.9×
body and structure
61 3.6 4.5×
reg plates and vin
41 2.4 2.4×
structure and attachments
28 1.6 1.1×

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 TS125 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 TS125.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the TS125

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

Best year to buy used: 1976 (86.5% pass). Weakest: 1989 (56.1%).

50%71%93%1971: 72.7% pass (55 tests)1976: 86.5% pass (52 tests)1978: 62.9% pass (62 tests)1979: 82.1% pass (67 tests)1983: 80.5% pass (82 tests)1984: 74.7% pass (190 tests)1985: 66.2% pass (145 tests)1986: 65.8% pass (76 tests)1987: 67.8% pass (59 tests)1989: 56.1% pass (98 tests)1990: 58.4% pass (166 tests)1991: 73.3% pass (105 tests)1992: 71.6% pass (81 tests)1993: 71.3% pass (108 tests)1994: 62.7% pass (75 tests)1995: 63.6% pass (55 tests)1996: 66.5% pass (155 tests)2002: 76.8% pass (56 tests)2003: 73.4% pass (139 tests)197119892003

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 TS125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI TS125 reliable?

The SUZUKI TS125 is less reliable than average for its class: 69.7% of its 2,282 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4760 of 5428 models.

What does a TS125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 38% of all defects recorded against failed TS125 tests.

What is the best year of TS125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1976-registered examples do best (86.5%) and 1989 worst (56.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TS125 last?

The median TS125 shows 15,546 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 69.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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