BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Honda SES125/vs Gilera Runner
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Honda SES125 vs Gilera Runner

The Honda SES125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Gilera Runner: 75.1% vs 70.8%, a 4.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Honda SES125 Gilera Runner
First-time pass rate 75.1% 70.8%
Outright fail rate 16.8% 21.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +4.9 pts -0.7 pts
Engine size 125cc 124cc
Rank among all models #4291 of 5428 #4675 of 5428
Median miles at test 14,986 11,381
MOT tests analysed 30,776 69,850
Most common failure brakes 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 Honda SES125 Gilera Runner
Lights & signalling 7.6% 12.3%
Brakes 9.4% 7.2%
Steering & suspension 5.5% 10.6%
Tyres & wheels 4.3% 5.1%
Fuel & exhaust 0.3% 2.6%
Structure & body 0.6% 2.0%

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 SES125 Gilera Runner
2018 74.7% 77.2%
2019 73.6% 77.0%
2020 73.9% 75.8%
2021 79.5% 79.1%
2022 75.8% 80.5%
2023 78.1% 81.3%
2024 83.8% 84.0%
2025 82.1% 85.5%

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 SES125 Gilera Runner
0k-10k miles 83.1% 76.2%
10k-20k miles 73.2% 67.5%
20k-30k miles 71.7% 65.4%
30k-40k miles 69.4% 67.2%
40k-50k miles 70.4% 68.1%
50k-60k miles 64.2% 67.8%

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

Honda SES125 vs Gilera Runner FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda SES125 or the Gilera Runner?

The Honda SES125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Gilera Runner: 75.1% vs 70.8%, a 4.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda SES125 still comes out ahead: +4.9 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda SES125, -0.7 for the Gilera Runner. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda SES125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 9.4% of Honda SES125 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (7.6%).

What does the Gilera Runner fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 12.3% of Gilera Runner MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (10.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda SES125 or the Gilera Runner?

At 50k-60k miles the Gilera Runner passes first time more often: 64.2% for the Honda SES125 vs 67.8% for the Gilera Runner.

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