Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2: 71.0% vs 63.2%, a 7.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2	Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate	63.2%	71.0%
Outright fail rate	28.0%	17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-9.5 pts	-1.1 pts
Engine size	125cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#5099 of 5428	#4664 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,180	10,652
MOT tests analysed	853	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	Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2	Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling	13.7%	8.5%
Steering & suspension	14.5%	6.5%
Brakes	14.3%	5.9%
Tyres & wheels	8.0%	4.4%
Structure & body	2.2%	3.8%
Drive system	0%	2.9%
Fuel & exhaust	1.2%	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	Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2	Yamaha YBR 125
2015	59.4%	71.2%
2016	58.9%	71.3%
2017	66.9%	70.7%
2018	65.4%	72.0%
2019	63.6%	71.8%
2020	71.0%	73.4%
2021	69.7%	71.6%

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	Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2	Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles	61.7%	76.8%
10k-20k miles	63.4%	67.4%
20k-30k miles	72.2%	63.8%

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

Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 or the Yamaha YBR 125?

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2: 71.0% vs 63.2%, a 7.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha YBR 125 still comes out ahead: -9.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 14.5% of Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (14.3%).

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 Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 or the Yamaha YBR 125?

At 20k-30k miles the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 passes first time more often: 72.2% for the Pulse WY 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 vs 63.8% for the Yamaha YBR 125.

PULSE WY 125 T-74 LIGHTSPEED 2 63.2% pass · 853 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.