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Yamaha Tw 125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha Tw 125 car check

Is the Yamaha Tw 125 reliable? We analysed 929 real MOT tests across 200 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 929 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.8%
Typical Mileage
10,945mi
Annual Mileage
713mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Yamaha Tw 125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, drive chain sprocket worn to excess and drive chain worn to excess. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Tw 125.

Yamaha Tw 125 Number Plates

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

Yamaha Tw 125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

84.7%
2004
84.2%
2003
78.4%
2002
73.9%
2001
79.6%
2000
80.7%
1999

Yamaha Tw 125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 14
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 14
Drive chain worn to excess 14
reflector on motorcycle missing 13
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 10
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 9
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 9
Drive chain excessively loose 8
reflector on motorcycle obscured 6
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 6

Yamaha Tw 125 Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
136 mi/yr
Typical
713 mi/yr
Average
1,596 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,166 mi/yr

Yamaha Tw 125 MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 189 84.7% 6,276 9,469 14,454
2003 95 84.2% 7,273 10,023 15,414
2002 148 78.4% 4,440 8,194 13,833
2001 180 73.9% 4,544 11,443 16,343
2000 108 79.6% 4,207 10,498 16,674
1999 119 80.7% 8,718 17,513 24,729

How Long Does a Yamaha Tw 125 Last?

Based on 200 Yamaha Tw 125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.4 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Yamaha Tw 125 Mileage Distribution

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

Median
10,945 mi
75th Percentile
17,082 mi
95th Percentile
27,710 mi
Max Recorded
42,189 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Tw 125

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

Best year
2004

84.7% MOT pass rate from 189 tests

Year to avoid
2001

73.9% MOT pass rate from 180 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha Tw 125 is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.7% across 189 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha Tw 125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha Tw 125 THIS CAR 80.8% 929 10,945 mi 27 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
Volkswagen Touran SE Blue Tech TDI 89.1% 1,715 86,675 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Yamaha Tw 125?

The Yamaha Tw 125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.8% across 929 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 Tw 125 are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (14 recorded failures), drive chain sprocket worn to excess (14), and drive chain worn to excess (14). 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 Tw 125 owner drives around 713 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 Tw 125 models stay on UK roads for around 27 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 Tw 125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Tw 125 reliable?
Based on 929 MOT tests, the Yamaha Tw 125 has a 80.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha Tw 125?
The most common MOT failures are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, drive chain sprocket worn to excess, and drive chain worn to excess. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha Tw 125 do per year?
The typical Yamaha Tw 125 does around 713 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha Tw 125 last?
Most Yamaha Tw 125 models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 200 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha Tw 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 Tw 125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha Tw 125 is 2004 with a 84.7% pass rate across 189 tests.