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

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia SR vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Aprilia SR passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 74.3% vs 71.0%, a 3.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia SR Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate 74.3% 71.0%
Outright fail rate 20.0% 17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +2.5 pts -1.1 pts
Engine size 124cc 124cc
Rank among all models #4371 of 5428 #4664 of 5428
Median miles at test 10,485 10,652
MOT tests analysed 3,817 124,897
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 Aprilia SR Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling 9.3% 8.5%
Steering & suspension 9.6% 6.5%
Brakes 6.8% 5.9%
Tyres & wheels 5.4% 4.4%
Structure & body 2.8% 3.8%
Drive system 0% 2.9%
Fuel & exhaust 1.1% 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 SR Yamaha YBR 125
2018 74.3% 72.0%
2019 74.0% 71.8%
2020 75.5% 73.4%
2021 75.7% 71.6%
2022 75.4% 71.3%
2023 73.1% 71.1%
2024 73.2% 70.9%
2025 80.8% 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 Aprilia SR Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles 79.2% 76.8%
10k-20k miles 71.8% 67.4%
20k-30k miles 66.3% 63.8%
30k-40k miles 62.2% 62.2%

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

Aprilia SR vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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

The Aprilia SR passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 74.3% vs 71.0%, a 3.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Aprilia SR still comes out ahead: +2.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia SR, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia SR fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 9.6% of Aprilia SR 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%).

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

They are level: at 30k-40k miles the Aprilia SR passes 62.2% 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.