Honda CB125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CB125 car check
Is the Honda CB125 reliable? We analysed 1,080 real MOT tests across 253 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CB125? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CB125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and footrest missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB125.
Honda CB125 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CB125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CB125 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CB125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CB125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CB125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CB125 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CB125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CB125 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB125 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 77 | 75.3% | 8,822 | 25,106 | 32,798 |
| 1976 | 78 | 74.4% | 14,182 | 18,704 | 28,681 |
| 1975 | 295 | 85.4% | 12,268 | 20,701 | 28,576 |
| 1974 | 71 | 87.3% | 14,560 | 21,167 | 25,618 |
| 1973 | 139 | 84.2% | 11,466 | 14,379 | 24,922 |
| 1972 | 54 | 90.7% | 3,113 | 9,464 | 23,096 |
How Long Does a Honda CB125 Last?
Based on 253 Honda CB125 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CB125 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB125
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.7% MOT pass rate from 54 tests
74.4% MOT pass rate from 78 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CB125 is 1972, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 54 tests. The 1976 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CB125 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB125 THIS CAR | 80.3% | 1,080 | 17,820 mi | 54 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
| Honda Cr-v | 78.5% | 4,177,643 | 80,499 mi | 29 yrs |
| Sinnis Terrain 125 | 78.7% | 1,070 | 6,142 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB125 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CB125 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda CB125Should you buy a used Honda CB125?
The Honda CB125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.3% across 1,080 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Honda CB125 are direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (13 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (13), and footrest missing (12). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Honda CB125 owner drives around 185 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Honda CB125 models stay on UK roads for around 54 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.