YAMAHA XT125

124cc Petrol Class 1

#5194 of 5426 overall #402 of 409 YAMAHAs #618 of 734 commuter bikes

60.5%

first-time pass rate

27.0%

failed outright

5,616

median miles at test

6,370

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The XT125's first-time pass rate has risen 5.8 points since 2006, 61.4% to 67.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XT125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage XT125 passes first time 64.1% of the time; by 30k that's 61.3%.

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 XT125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	2,133	35.9	4.1×
brakes	1,086	18.3	2.6×
steering and suspension	854	14.4	2.9×
drive system	582	9.8	8.7×
lamps and reflectors	447	7.5	2.3×
tyres and wheels	251	4.2	1.7×
structure and attachments	224	3.8	3.2×
suspension	145	2.4	2.3×
reg plates and vin	119	2	2.9×
fuel and exhaust	107	1.8	1.9×

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 XT125 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 XT125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (72.4% pass). Weakest: 2006 (56.4%).

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 XT125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT125 reliable?

The YAMAHA XT125 is less reliable than average for its class: 60.5% of its 6,370 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5194 of 5426 models.

What does a XT125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed XT125 tests.

What is the best year of XT125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (72.4%) and 2006 worst (56.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT125 last?

The median XT125 shows 5,616 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 61.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.