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

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia SR 125 vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia SR 125: 71.0% vs 69.3%, a 1.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia SR 125 Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate 69.3% 71.0%
Outright fail rate 24.2% 17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -1.0 pts -1.1 pts
Engine size 125cc 124cc
Rank among all models #4785 of 5428 #4664 of 5428
Median miles at test 15,112 10,652
MOT tests analysed 5,701 124,897
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 SR 125 Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling 13.4% 8.5%
Steering & suspension 11.5% 6.5%
Brakes 9.5% 5.9%
Tyres & wheels 6.2% 4.4%
Structure & body 1.9% 3.8%
Fuel & exhaust 3.6% 0.6%
Drive system 0.1% 2.9%

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 SR 125 Yamaha YBR 125
2018 79.7% 72.0%
2019 78.9% 71.8%
2020 76.4% 73.4%
2021 82.6% 71.6%
2022 70.8% 71.3%
2023 78.3% 71.1%
2024 89.4% 70.9%
2025 83.0% 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 SR 125 Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles 78.0% 76.8%
10k-20k miles 67.0% 67.4%
20k-30k miles 65.2% 63.8%
30k-40k miles 62.4% 62.2%
40k-50k miles 63.9% 63.4%

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

Aprilia SR 125 vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia SR 125: 71.0% vs 69.3%, a 1.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-1.0 vs -1.1 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

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

Lights & signalling: 13.4% of Aprilia SR 125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (11.5%).

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 SR 125 or the Yamaha YBR 125?

They are level: at 40k-50k miles the Aprilia SR 125 passes 63.9% first time and the Yamaha YBR 125 63.4%.

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