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Honda CBR125R Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CBR125R car check

Is the Honda CBR125R reliable? We analysed 34,845 real MOT tests across 4,022 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 34,845 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.2%
Typical Mileage
13,258mi
Annual Mileage
1,538mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Honda CBR125R 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 CBR125R.

Honda CBR125R Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CBR125R. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CBR125R MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CBR125R to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75%
2017
77.1%
2016
77.2%
2015
75.2%
2014
77.2%
2013
76.6%
2012
77.6%
2011
75.9%
2010
75.7%
2009
76.4%
2008
73.3%
2007
73.2%
2006
73%
2005
73.7%
2004

Honda CBR125R Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CBR125R fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 1,005
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 860
Drive chain excessively loose 752
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 531
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 509
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 508
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 449
Drive chain worn to excess 397
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 348

Honda CBR125R Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CBR125R owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
469 mi/yr
Typical
1,538 mi/yr
Average
2,198 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,106 mi/yr

Honda CBR125R MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CBR125R year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2017 72 75.0% 5,734 13,775 22,112
2016 105 77.1% 9,941 15,359 23,557
2015 145 77.2% 6,601 12,732 18,854
2014 145 75.2% 9,995 14,710 24,348
2013 79 77.2% 8,954 13,569 24,218
2012 955 76.6% 8,096 13,975 20,789
2011 1,803 77.6% 8,649 14,668 23,282
2010 1,179 75.9% 6,278 11,695 18,224
2009 1,590 75.7% 6,214 12,124 19,125
2008 3,455 76.4% 7,302 12,593 20,139
2007 5,292 73.3% 7,265 12,997 20,610
2006 4,615 73.2% 7,630 13,284 20,758
2005 8,782 73.0% 7,848 13,586 21,100
2004 6,517 73.7% 7,921 13,325 20,638

How Long Does a Honda CBR125R Last?

Based on 4,022 Honda CBR125R vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.6 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Honda CBR125R Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CBR125R MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
13,258 mi
75th Percentile
20,738 mi
95th Percentile
34,675 mi
Max Recorded
921,091 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CBR125R

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

Best year
2011

77.6% MOT pass rate from 1,803 tests

Year to avoid
2005

73.0% MOT pass rate from 8,782 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CBR125R is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.6% across 1,803 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CBR125R Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CBR125R THIS CAR 74.2% 34,845 13,258 mi 22 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
Kawasaki GPZ500S 79.3% 24,333 23,283 mi 39 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CBR125R sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CBR125R?

The Honda CBR125R has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% across 34,845 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Honda CBR125R are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (1,005 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (860), and drive chain excessively loose (752). 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 CBR125R owner drives around 1,538 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 CBR125R models stay on UK roads for around 22 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 CBR125R — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CBR125R reliable?
Based on 34,845 MOT tests, the Honda CBR125R has a 74.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Honda CBR125R?
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 CBR125R do per year?
The typical Honda CBR125R does around 1,538 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CBR125R last?
Most Honda CBR125R models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 4,022 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CBR125R?
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 CBR125R?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CBR125R is 2011 with a 77.6% pass rate across 1,803 tests.