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Yamaha Sr 125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha Sr 125 car check

Is the Yamaha Sr 125 reliable? We analysed 2,253 real MOT tests across 419 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,253 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.1%
Typical Mileage
16,312mi
Annual Mileage
794mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Yamaha Sr 125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, wheel bearings have excessive free play and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Sr 125.

Yamaha Sr 125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha Sr 125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha Sr 125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha Sr 125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

72.5%
2005
81%
2003
80%
2002
79.9%
2001
76%
2000
76.9%
1999
76.1%
1998
73.2%
1997
77%
1996
78.8%
1995
78.8%
1994
82%
1992

Yamaha Sr 125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha Sr 125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 68
wheel bearings have excessive free play 30
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 27
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 27
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 24
Drive chain excessively loose 24
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 23
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 21
Drive chain worn to excess 20
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 19

Yamaha Sr 125 Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
195 mi/yr
Typical
794 mi/yr
Average
1,717 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,184 mi/yr

Yamaha Sr 125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Sr 125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 51 72.5% 2,524 8,980 12,840
2003 137 81.0% 2,847 7,878 12,914
2002 175 80.0% 6,219 9,677 18,128
2001 278 79.9% 9,900 17,196 25,696
2000 342 76.0% 9,905 15,332 25,408
1999 299 76.9% 8,479 14,732 20,927
1998 306 76.1% 7,752 13,746 22,758
1997 149 73.2% 12,372 18,347 23,404
1996 139 77.0% 11,550 24,448 35,337
1995 66 78.8% 19,478 31,758 37,450
1994 66 78.8% 17,300 19,818 21,930
1992 89 82.0% 13,793 19,264 22,793

How Long Does a Yamaha Sr 125 Last?

Based on 419 Yamaha Sr 125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.6 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Yamaha Sr 125 Mileage Distribution

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

Median
16,312 mi
75th Percentile
24,363 mi
95th Percentile
39,162 mi
Max Recorded
314,589 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Sr 125

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

Best year
1992

82.0% MOT pass rate from 89 tests

Year to avoid
2005

72.5% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha Sr 125 is 1992, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.0% across 89 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha Sr 125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha Sr 125 THIS CAR 78.1% 2,253 16,312 mi 34 yrs
Yamaha Yzf R1 86.5% 175,313 16,232 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha FZS600 85% 157,659 22,466 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha XJR1300 88.8% 107,128 16,836 mi 27 yrs
Ducati M821 89.5% 2,519 5,554 mi — yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Sr 125 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha Sr 125?

The Yamaha Sr 125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.1% across 2,253 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 Yamaha Sr 125 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (68 recorded failures), wheel bearings have excessive free play (30), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (27). 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 Yamaha Sr 125 owner drives around 794 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 Yamaha Sr 125 models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.

Yamaha Sr 125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Sr 125 reliable?
Based on 2,253 MOT tests, the Yamaha Sr 125 has a 78.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha Sr 125?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, wheel bearings have excessive free play, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha Sr 125 do per year?
The typical Yamaha Sr 125 does around 794 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha Sr 125 last?
Most Yamaha Sr 125 models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 419 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha Sr 125?
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 Yamaha Sr 125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha Sr 125 is 1992 with a 82.0% pass rate across 89 tests.