SUZUKI VL125

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4554 of 5426 overall #624 of 680 SUZUKIs #305 of 734 commuter bikes

72.3%

first-time pass rate

18.9%

failed outright

12,090

median miles at test

14.5k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VL125's first-time pass rate has fallen 10.7 points since 2005, 85.2% to 74.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage VL125 passes first time 81.0% of the time; by 50k that's 56.3%.

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 VL125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	1,774	25.9	2.0×
lighting and signalling	1,192	17.4	1.4×
steering and suspension	1,062	15.5	1.8×
drive system	923	13.5	6.2×
tyres and wheels	613	9	1.8×
lamps and reflectors	346	5.1	1.0×
structure and attachments	331	4.8	2.3×
fuel and exhaust	266	3.9	2.2×
suspension	186	2.7	1.5×
reg plates and vin	146	2.1	1.5×

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 VL125 beats 3 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 VL125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (77.9% pass). Weakest: 1999 (67.6%).

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 VL125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI VL125 reliable?

The SUZUKI VL125 is about average for its class: 72.3% of its 14,470 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4554 of 5426 models.

What does a VL125 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed VL125 tests.

What is the best year of VL125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (77.9%) and 1999 worst (67.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VL125 last?

The median VL125 shows 12,090 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 56.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.