BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/WR 125 R
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA WR 125 R

124cc Petrol Class 1
#4997 of 5428 overall #391 of 409 YAMAHAs #515 of 734 commuter bikes
65.4%
first-time pass rate
23.1%
failed outright
12,322
median miles at test
3,824
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-5.8pp
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 · 2012–2025

The WR 125 R's first-time pass rate has risen 4.2 points since 2012, 60.7% to 64.9%.

58%66%73%2012: 60.7% pass (112 tests)2013: 65.8% pass (260 tests)2014: 66.1% pass (354 tests)2015: 64.7% pass (405 tests)2016: 66.1% pass (489 tests)2017: 65.5% pass (394 tests)2018: 63.8% pass (257 tests)2019: 63.6% pass (269 tests)2020: 65.0% pass (220 tests)2021: 70.3% pass (276 tests)2022: 61.1% pass (262 tests)2023: 68.7% pass (211 tests)2024: 65.6% pass (160 tests)2025: 64.9% pass (151 tests)20122025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage WR 125 R passes first time 72.3% of the time; by 40k that's 62.0%.

56%65%75%0k: 72.3% pass (1,478 tests)10k: 62.0% pass (1,437 tests)20k: 58.5% pass (632 tests)30k: 62.8% pass (191 tests)40k: 62.0% pass (50 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 WR 125 R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
558 22.1 2.4×
lighting and signalling
465 18.4 1.9×
lamps and reflectors
414 16.4 4.0×
steering and suspension
235 9.3 1.4×
tyres and wheels
208 8.2 2.1×
structure and attachments
187 7.4 4.8×
drive system
171 6.8 4.3×
suspension
154 6.1 4.2×
tyres
77 3.1 2.4×
reg plates and vin
54 2.1 2.1×

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 WR 125 R 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 WR 125 R.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the WR 125 R

More YAMAHA models

other YAMAHA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
YAMAHA YZF-R1 84.1% pass · 232k tests
YAMAHA YZF-R6 79.0% pass · 155k tests
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests
YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests
YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k tests

See all YAMAHA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2013 (66.3%). Lowest: 2009 (63.1%). Every WR 125 R year compared →

62%65%67%2009: 63.1% pass (916 tests)2010: 65.6% pass (1,154 tests)2011: 65.9% pass (694 tests)2012: 66.1% pass (613 tests)2013: 66.3% pass (419 tests)200920112013

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 WR 125 R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA WR 125 R reliable?

The YAMAHA WR 125 R is less reliable than average for its class: 65.4% of its 3,824 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4997 of 5428 models.

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

brakes: 22% of all defects recorded against failed WR 125 R tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (66.3%) and 2009 worst (63.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a WR 125 R last?

The median WR 125 R shows 12,322 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 62.0% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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