Keeway Speed vs Honda CG125

The Honda CG125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Keeway Speed: 72.2% vs 57.0%, a 15.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Keeway Speed	Honda CG125
First-time pass rate	57.0%	72.2%
Outright fail rate	30.1%	16.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-14.9 pts	+0.7 pts
Engine size	124cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#5306 of 5428	#4568 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,301	17,460
MOT tests analysed	863	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	Keeway Speed	Honda CG125
Lights & signalling	17.6%	10.0%
Steering & suspension	15.2%	7.2%
Brakes	10.4%	5.1%
Drive system	9.4%	2.6%
Tyres & wheels	6.8%	4.6%
Structure & body	5.2%	1.9%
Fuel & exhaust	1.6%	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	Keeway Speed	Honda CG125
2011	61.3%	70.6%
2012	61.8%	70.6%
2013	53.8%	69.4%
2014	57.9%	69.3%
2015	52.0%	70.9%
2016	54.4%	71.1%
2017	59.4%	72.7%
2018	45.0%	72.6%

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	Keeway Speed	Honda CG125
0k-10k miles	62.9%	79.3%
10k-20k miles	52.7%	73.0%
20k-30k miles	52.8%	68.3%

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

Keeway Speed vs Honda CG125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Keeway Speed or the Honda CG125?

The Honda CG125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Keeway Speed: 72.2% vs 57.0%, a 15.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CG125 still comes out ahead: -14.9 points vs comparable bikes for the Keeway Speed, +0.7 for the Honda CG125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Keeway Speed fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 17.6% of Keeway Speed MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (15.2%).

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 Keeway Speed or the Honda CG125?

At 20k-30k miles the Honda CG125 passes first time more often: 52.8% for the Keeway Speed vs 68.3% for the Honda CG125.

KEEWAY SPEED 57.0% pass · 863 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.