BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ajs Tempest Roadster/vs Yamaha YBR 125
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ajs Tempest Roadster vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Ajs Tempest Roadster passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 72.2% vs 71.0%, a 1.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ajs Tempest Roadster Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate 72.2% 71.0%
Outright fail rate 18.3% 17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -4.1 pts -1.1 pts
Engine size 124cc 124cc
Rank among all models #4568 of 5428 #4664 of 5428
Median miles at test 3,790 10,652
MOT tests analysed 558 124,897
Most common failure brakes brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Ajs Tempest Roadster Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling 9.3% 8.5%
Brakes 10.4% 5.9%
Steering & suspension 5.4% 6.5%
Structure & body 4.1% 3.8%
Tyres & wheels 0.2% 4.4%
Drive system 0% 2.9%
Fuel & exhaust 0% 0.6%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Ajs Tempest Roadster Yamaha YBR 125
2021 86.0% 71.6%
2022 72.4% 71.3%
2023 65.6% 71.1%
2024 68.4% 70.9%
2025 74.8% 71.2%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Ajs Tempest Roadster Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles 75.1% 76.8%
10k-20k miles 59.7% 67.4%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Ajs Tempest Roadster vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ajs Tempest Roadster or the Yamaha YBR 125?

The Ajs Tempest Roadster passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 72.2% vs 71.0%, a 1.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha YBR 125 still comes out ahead: -4.1 points vs comparable bikes for the Ajs Tempest Roadster, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Ajs Tempest Roadster fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 10.4% of Ajs Tempest Roadster MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (9.3%).

What does the Yamaha YBR 125 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 8.5% of Yamaha YBR 125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (6.5%).

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.