Tamoretti 125 Retro vs Yamaha YBR 125

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Tamoretti 125 Retro: 71.0% vs 63.5%, a 7.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Tamoretti 125 Retro	Yamaha YBR 125
First-time pass rate	63.5%	71.0%
Outright fail rate	26.3%	17.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-13.3 pts	-1.1 pts
Engine size	124cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#5086 of 5428	#4664 of 5428
Median miles at test	3,706	10,652
MOT tests analysed	1,188	124,897
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	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	Tamoretti 125 Retro	Yamaha YBR 125
Lights & signalling	15.1%	8.5%
Brakes	13.7%	5.9%
Steering & suspension	10.4%	6.5%
Tyres & wheels	7.7%	4.4%
Structure & body	1.9%	3.8%
Fuel & exhaust	2.7%	0.6%
Drive system	0%	2.9%

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	Tamoretti 125 Retro	Yamaha YBR 125
2015	60.5%	71.2%
2016	69.8%	71.3%
2017	69.1%	70.7%
2018	77.6%	72.0%
2019	67.4%	71.8%
2020	66.0%	73.4%
2021	70.8%	71.6%
2022	60.5%	71.3%

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	Tamoretti 125 Retro	Yamaha YBR 125
0k-10k miles	64.0%	76.8%
10k-20k miles	53.3%	67.4%

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

Tamoretti 125 Retro vs Yamaha YBR 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Tamoretti 125 Retro or the Yamaha YBR 125?

The Yamaha YBR 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Tamoretti 125 Retro: 71.0% vs 63.5%, a 7.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha YBR 125 still comes out ahead: -13.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Tamoretti 125 Retro, -1.1 for the Yamaha YBR 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Tamoretti 125 Retro fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 15.1% of Tamoretti 125 Retro MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (13.7%).

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%).

TAMORETTI 125 RETRO 63.5% pass · 1,188 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.