Bajaj Chetak vs Honda CG125

The Bajaj Chetak passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CG125: 80.7% vs 72.2%, a 8.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Bajaj Chetak	Honda CG125
First-time pass rate	80.7%	72.2%
Outright fail rate	11.5%	16.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+4.4 pts	+0.7 pts
Engine size	125cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#3439 of 5428	#4568 of 5428
Median miles at test	6,358	17,460
MOT tests analysed	633	89,345
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	lighting and signalling

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	Bajaj Chetak	Honda CG125
Lights & signalling	7.9%	10.0%
Steering & suspension	5.5%	7.2%
Brakes	3.9%	5.1%
Tyres & wheels	2.5%	4.6%
Drive system	0%	2.6%
Structure & body	0.6%	1.9%
Fuel & exhaust	0.3%	0.9%

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	Bajaj Chetak	Honda CG125
2009	73.9%	71.1%
2010	75.0%	71.8%
2011	76.6%	70.6%
2012	77.4%	70.6%
2013	72.7%	69.4%
2014	65.0%	69.3%
2016	89.5%	71.1%
2019	90.0%	71.8%

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	Bajaj Chetak	Honda CG125
0k-10k miles	81.2%	79.3%
10k-20k miles	79.7%	73.0%
20k-30k miles	90.2%	68.3%

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

Bajaj Chetak vs Honda CG125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Bajaj Chetak or the Honda CG125?

The Bajaj Chetak passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CG125: 80.7% vs 72.2%, a 8.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Bajaj Chetak still comes out ahead: +4.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Bajaj Chetak, +0.7 for the Honda CG125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Bajaj Chetak fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 7.9% of Bajaj Chetak MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.5%).

What does the Honda CG125 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 10.0% of Honda CG125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (7.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Bajaj Chetak or the Honda CG125?

At 20k-30k miles the Bajaj Chetak passes first time more often: 90.2% for the Bajaj Chetak vs 68.3% for the Honda CG125.

BAJAJ CHETAK 80.7% pass · 633 tests HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests

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