YAMAHA XT 125 R

124cc Petrol Class 1

#5178 of 5426 overall #401 of 409 YAMAHAs #610 of 734 commuter bikes

61.1%

first-time pass rate

27.0%

failed outright

5,222

median miles at test

3,154

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The XT 125 R's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.6 points since 2008, 68.6% to 60.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XT 125 R passes first time 66.5% of the time; by 20k that's 62.2%.

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 XT 125 R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	1,041	37.2	4.1×
brakes	496	17.7	2.6×
steering and suspension	367	13.1	2.8×
drive system	263	9.4	7.5×
lamps and reflectors	220	7.9	2.4×
tyres and wheels	126	4.5	1.6×
structure and attachments	103	3.7	2.8×
suspension	74	2.6	2.3×
driving controls	56	2	6.7×
body and structure	56	2	2.9×

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 XT 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 XT 125 R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (67.9% pass). Weakest: 2008 (59.2%).

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 XT 125 R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT 125 R reliable?

The YAMAHA XT 125 R is less reliable than average for its class: 61.1% of its 3,154 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5178 of 5426 models.

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

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed XT 125 R tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (67.9%) and 2008 worst (59.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT 125 R last?

The median XT 125 R shows 5,222 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 62.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.