YAMAHA DT 125 R

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4904 of 5426 overall #384 of 409 YAMAHAs #469 of 734 commuter bikes

67.0%

first-time pass rate

22.3%

failed outright

13,421

median miles at test

2,261

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The DT 125 R's first-time pass rate has risen 16.1 points since 2005, 68.4% to 84.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DT 125 R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage DT 125 R passes first time 72.6% of the time; by 40k that's 65.9%.

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 DT 125 R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	583	33.4	3.2×
brakes	278	15.9	2.0×
steering and suspension	246	14.1	2.5×
tyres and wheels	189	10.8	3.3×
drive system	155	8.9	6.2×
lamps and reflectors	103	5.9	1.3×
reg plates and vin	62	3.5	3.8×
body and structure	51	2.9	3.4×
fuel and exhaust	42	2.4	2.3×
structure and attachments	38	2.2	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 DT 125 R 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 DT 125 R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1992 (72.6% pass). Weakest: 1993 (45.1%).

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.

YAMAHA DT 125 R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA DT 125 R reliable?

The YAMAHA DT 125 R is less reliable than average for its class: 67.0% of its 2,261 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4904 of 5426 models.

What does a DT 125 R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 33% of all defects recorded against failed DT 125 R tests.

What is the best year of DT 125 R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1992-registered examples do best (72.6%) and 1993 worst (45.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DT 125 R last?

The median DT 125 R shows 13,421 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 65.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.