BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Aprilia Leonardo/vs Yamaha YBR 125
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia Leonardo vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Aprilia Leonardo passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 80.1% vs 71.0%, a 9.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia Leonardo Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate 80.1% 71.0%
Outright fail rate 14.4% 17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +5.2 pts -1.1 pts
Engine size 125cc 124cc
Rank among all models #3557 of 5428 #4664 of 5428
Median miles at test 16,767 10,652
MOT tests analysed 945 124,897
Most common failure steering and suspension 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 Aprilia Leonardo Yamaha YBR 125
Steering & suspension 8.6% 6.5%
Lights & signalling 4.1% 8.5%
Brakes 5.0% 5.9%
Tyres & wheels 3.9% 4.4%
Structure & body 0.7% 3.8%
Drive system 0% 2.9%
Fuel & exhaust 0.6% 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 Aprilia Leonardo Yamaha YBR 125
2009 83.3% 70.7%
2010 70.7% 71.4%
2011 83.1% 69.1%
2012 78.3% 69.1%
2013 81.1% 69.5%
2014 82.7% 70.0%
2015 68.3% 71.2%
2016 79.4% 71.3%

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 Aprilia Leonardo Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles 86.3% 76.8%
10k-20k miles 80.7% 67.4%
20k-30k miles 76.1% 63.8%
30k-40k miles 67.3% 62.2%
40k-50k miles 81.6% 63.4%

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

Aprilia Leonardo vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Leonardo or the Yamaha YBR 125?

The Aprilia Leonardo passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 80.1% vs 71.0%, a 9.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Aprilia Leonardo still comes out ahead: +5.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Leonardo, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Leonardo fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 8.6% of Aprilia Leonardo MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (5.0%).

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%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia Leonardo or the Yamaha YBR 125?

At 40k-50k miles the Aprilia Leonardo passes first time more often: 81.6% for the Aprilia Leonardo vs 63.4% for the Yamaha YBR 125.

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