YAMAHA MT-125
Pass rate over time
The MT-125's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.5 points since 2017, 73.3% to 71.8%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage MT-125 passes first time 80.0% of the time; by 50k that's 64.9%.
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 MT-125
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lamps and reflectors |
|
2,481 | 28.6 | 5.1× |
| brakes |
|
2,022 | 23.3 | 1.6× |
| structure and attachments |
|
1,828 | 21.1 | 8.9× |
| steering |
|
849 | 9.8 | 8.4× |
| suspension |
|
567 | 6.5 | 3.4× |
| tyres |
|
554 | 6.4 | 3.7× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
151 | 1.7 | 3.1× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
96 | 1.1 | 2.5× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
72 | 0.8 | — |
| wheels |
|
47 | 0.5 | 3.6× |
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
On first-time pass rate the MT-125 beats 4 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 MT-125.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2021 (78.4% pass). Weakest: 2015 (70.8%).
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 MT-125 FAQ
Is the YAMAHA MT-125 reliable?
The YAMAHA MT-125 is about average for its class: 73.9% of its 20,804 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4406 of 5426 models.
What does a MT-125 fail its MOT on most?
lamps and reflectors — 29% of all defects recorded against failed MT-125 tests.
What is the best year of MT-125 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2021-registered examples do best (78.4%) and 2015 worst (70.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a MT-125 last?
The median MT-125 shows 10,237 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 64.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.