BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Yamaha XC 125 E Vity vs Honda CG125

The Yamaha XC 125 E Vity passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CG125: 75.0% vs 72.2%, a 2.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Yamaha XC 125 E Vity Honda CG125
First-time pass rate 75.0% 72.2%
Outright fail rate 15.8% 16.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +3.6 pts +0.7 pts
Engine size 124cc 124cc
Rank among all models #4300 of 5428 #4568 of 5428
Median miles at test 10,927 17,460
MOT tests analysed 17,031 89,345
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 Yamaha XC 125 E Vity Honda CG125
Lights & signalling 6.9% 10.0%
Brakes 8.6% 5.1%
Tyres & wheels 6.5% 4.6%
Steering & suspension 2.5% 7.2%
Structure & body 0.9% 1.9%
Drive system 0.0% 2.6%
Fuel & exhaust 0.3% 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 Yamaha XC 125 E Vity Honda CG125
2018 74.3% 72.6%
2019 73.4% 71.8%
2020 73.7% 73.6%
2021 74.0% 73.9%
2022 75.1% 73.5%
2023 73.4% 74.4%
2024 76.2% 73.0%
2025 76.5% 76.4%

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 Yamaha XC 125 E Vity Honda CG125
0k-10k miles 81.5% 79.3%
10k-20k miles 69.8% 73.0%
20k-30k miles 69.2% 68.3%
30k-40k miles 69.6% 66.4%
40k-50k miles 69.4% 66.2%
50k-60k miles 62.4% 65.8%

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

Yamaha XC 125 E Vity vs Honda CG125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Yamaha XC 125 E Vity or the Honda CG125?

The Yamaha XC 125 E Vity passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CG125: 75.0% vs 72.2%, a 2.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha XC 125 E Vity still comes out ahead: +3.6 points vs comparable bikes for the Yamaha XC 125 E Vity, +0.7 for the Honda CG125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Yamaha XC 125 E Vity fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 8.6% of Yamaha XC 125 E Vity MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (6.9%).

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 Yamaha XC 125 E Vity or the Honda CG125?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda CG125 passes first time more often: 62.4% for the Yamaha XC 125 E Vity vs 65.8% for the Honda CG125.

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