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

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia RX 125 vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia RX 125: 71.0% vs 62.8%, a 8.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia RX 125 Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate 62.8% 71.0%
Outright fail rate 26.0% 17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -11.2 pts -1.1 pts
Engine size 124cc 124cc
Rank among all models #5121 of 5428 #4664 of 5428
Median miles at test 9,735 10,652
MOT tests analysed 1,517 124,897
Most common failure lighting and signalling 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 RX 125 Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling 16.7% 8.5%
Steering & suspension 11.8% 6.5%
Brakes 10.0% 5.9%
Tyres & wheels 5.9% 4.4%
Structure & body 4.9% 3.8%
Drive system 2.4% 2.9%
Fuel & exhaust 1.6% 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 RX 125 Yamaha YBR 125
2015 59.6% 71.2%
2016 61.4% 71.3%
2017 58.5% 70.7%
2021 66.7% 71.6%
2022 68.1% 71.3%
2023 60.9% 71.1%
2024 64.5% 70.9%
2025 67.1% 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 Aprilia RX 125 Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles 64.6% 76.8%
10k-20k miles 61.8% 67.4%
20k-30k miles 58.5% 63.8%
30k-40k miles 62.9% 62.2%

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

Aprilia RX 125 vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia RX 125: 71.0% vs 62.8%, a 8.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha YBR 125 still comes out ahead: -11.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia RX 125, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia RX 125 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 16.7% of Aprilia RX 125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (11.8%).

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 RX 125 or the Yamaha YBR 125?

They are level: at 30k-40k miles the Aprilia RX 125 passes 62.9% first time and the Yamaha YBR 125 62.2%.

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