Honda FES125 vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Honda FES125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 76.3% vs 71.0%, a 5.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda FES125	Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate	76.3%	71.0%
Outright fail rate	17.8%	17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+5.8 pts	-1.1 pts
Engine size	125cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#4150 of 5428	#4664 of 5428
Median miles at test	14,688	10,652
MOT tests analysed	18,340	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	Honda FES125	Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling	6.1%	8.5%
Brakes	8.4%	5.9%
Steering & suspension	6.9%	6.5%
Tyres & wheels	5.7%	4.4%
Structure & body	0.4%	3.8%
Drive system	0.0%	2.9%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	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	Honda FES125	Yamaha YBR 125
2018	75.8%	72.0%
2019	78.0%	71.8%
2020	73.3%	73.4%
2021	76.4%	71.6%
2022	70.8%	71.3%
2023	73.9%	71.1%
2024	78.1%	70.9%
2025	72.2%	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	Honda FES125	Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles	84.1%	76.8%
10k-20k miles	74.6%	67.4%
20k-30k miles	71.1%	63.8%
30k-40k miles	70.2%	62.2%
40k-50k miles	66.4%	63.4%
50k-60k miles	74.6%	63.6%

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

Honda FES125 vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda FES125 or the Yamaha YBR 125?

The Honda FES125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YBR 125: 76.3% vs 71.0%, a 5.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda FES125 still comes out ahead: +5.8 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda FES125, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda FES125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 8.4% of Honda FES125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (6.9%).

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 Honda FES125 or the Yamaha YBR 125?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda FES125 passes first time more often: 74.6% for the Honda FES125 vs 63.6% for the Yamaha YBR 125.

HONDA FES125 76.3% pass · 18.3k tests YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests

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