BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
Model report · 2005–2025

YAMAHA YZ125

125cc Petrol Class 1
#4298 of 5426 overall #320 of 409 YAMAHAs #232 of 734 commuter bikes
75.0%
first-time pass rate
17.4%
failed outright
664
median miles at test
609
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The YZ125's first-time pass rate has risen 3.8 points since 2012, 75.0% to 78.8%.

56%75%95%2012: 75.0% pass (32 tests)2013: 65.1% pass (43 tests)2014: 72.9% pass (48 tests)2015: 68.4% pass (57 tests)2016: 82.4% pass (51 tests)2017: 73.2% pass (41 tests)2020: 62.2% pass (37 tests)2021: 72.2% pass (36 tests)2022: 88.6% pass (35 tests)2023: 82.9% pass (35 tests)2025: 78.8% pass (33 tests)20122025

What fails on a YZ125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
74 20.9 1.4×
steering and suspension
71 20.1 2.4×
brakes
63 17.8 1.4×
tyres and wheels
44 12.4 2.3×
lamps and reflectors
37 10.5 1.6×
suspension
17 4.8 2.7×
drive system
16 4.5 3.0×
tyres
11 3.1 1.4×
reg plates and vin
11 3.1 2.9×
fuel and exhaust
10 2.8 1.7×

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 YZ125 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 YZ125.

YAMAHA YZ125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA YZ125 reliable?

The YAMAHA YZ125 is about average for its class: 75.0% of its 609 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4298 of 5426 models.

What does a YZ125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 21% of all defects recorded against failed YZ125 tests.