YAMAHA DT 125 RE
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
The DT 125 RE's first-time pass rate has fallen 10.1 points since 2008, 84.4% to 74.3%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage DT 125 RE passes first time 72.5% of the time; by 20k 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 RE
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
70 | 22.2 | 1.8× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
68 | 21.6 | 4.2× |
| brakes |
|
51 | 16.2 | 1.7× |
| steering and suspension |
|
34 | 10.8 | 1.7× |
| drive system |
|
31 | 9.8 | 5.4× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
26 | 8.3 | 1.9× |
| structure and attachments |
|
12 | 3.8 | 2.3× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
11 | 3.5 | 3.4× |
| wheels |
|
6 | 1.9 | 16.3× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
6 | 1.9 | 1.3× |
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
On first-time pass rate the DT 125 RE beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).
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 RE.
Compare with any bike
More YAMAHA models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2004 (70.8% pass). Weakest: 2006 (65.6%).
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.
YAMAHA DT 125 RE FAQ
Is the YAMAHA DT 125 RE reliable?
The YAMAHA DT 125 RE is less reliable than average for its class: 68.8% of its 510 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4808 of 5428 models.
What does a DT 125 RE fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 22% of all defects recorded against failed DT 125 RE tests.
What is the best year of DT 125 RE to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (70.8%) and 2006 worst (65.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a DT 125 RE last?
The median DT 125 RE shows 9,617 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 65.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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