CarVerify

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Cbr 125 R-5 car check

Is the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 reliable? We analysed 3,207 real MOT tests across 347 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda Cbr 125 R-5? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 3,207 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.1%
Typical Mileage
13,770mi
Annual Mileage
1,591mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
21yrs

The Honda Cbr 125 R-5 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates a binding brake, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and drive chain excessively loose. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cbr 125 R-5.

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Cbr 125 R-5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Cbr 125 R-5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

74.1%
2007
74.1%
2006
74%
2005

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Cbr 125 R-5 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 106
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 89
Drive chain excessively loose 86
Drive chain worn to excess 54
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 53
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 52
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 45
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 42
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 42
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 40

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Cbr 125 R-5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
485 mi/yr
Typical
1,591 mi/yr
Average
2,293 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,346 mi/yr

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 139 74.1% 9,000 12,448 18,441
2006 860 74.1% 7,571 14,228 23,038
2005 2,171 74.0% 7,862 13,759 21,709

How Long Does a Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Last?

Based on 347 Honda Cbr 125 R-5 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.7 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
21 years

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cbr 125 R-5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
13,770 mi
75th Percentile
21,742 mi
95th Percentile
35,671 mi
Max Recorded
360,302 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cbr 125 R-5

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2006

74.1% MOT pass rate from 860 tests

Year to avoid
2005

74.0% MOT pass rate from 2,171 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 125 R-5 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.1% across 860 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Cbr 125 R-5 THIS CAR 74.1% 3,207 13,770 mi 21 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
Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate HEV Auto 92% 1,168 29,398 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda Cbr 125 R-5 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 Cbr 125 R-5

Should you buy a used Honda Cbr 125 R-5?

The Honda Cbr 125 R-5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.1% across 3,207 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (106 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (89), and drive chain excessively loose (86). 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 Cbr 125 R-5 owner drives around 1,591 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 Cbr 125 R-5 models stay on UK roads for around 21 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.

Honda Cbr 125 R-5 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 reliable?
Based on 3,207 MOT tests, the Honda Cbr 125 R-5 has a 74.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Honda Cbr 125 R-5?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test indicates a binding brake, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and drive chain excessively loose. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Cbr 125 R-5 do per year?
The typical Honda Cbr 125 R-5 does around 1,591 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Cbr 125 R-5 last?
Most Honda Cbr 125 R-5 models stay on UK roads for around 21 years based on our analysis of 347 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Cbr 125 R-5?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda Cbr 125 R-5?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 125 R-5 is 2006 with a 74.1% pass rate across 860 tests.