Derbi Senda Sm 125 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 99 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 44.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Derbi Senda Sm 125 MOT Reliability Overview
The Derbi Senda Sm 125 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 99 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 55.6% and a failure rate of 44.4%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Derbi Senda Sm 125 earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Derbi Senda Sm 125 presents for MOT with approximately 10,947 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2004 models achieve the highest pass rate at 61.1%, while 2006 models have the lowest at 60.0%. This 1.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Derbi Senda Sm 125 is Motorcycle steering and suspension, affecting 41.4% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 38.4%. Motorcycle brakes rounds out the top three at 26.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 53.5% | 53 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 47.5% | 47 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Brakes | 30.3% | 30 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Drive System | 24.2% | 24 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 11.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 9.1% | 9 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 8.1% | 8 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Tyres | 4.0% | 4 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 3.0% | 3 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Suspension | 3.0% | 3 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.0% | 2 |
| 12 | Non-component Advisories | 1.0% | 1 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.0% | 1 |
| 14 | Items Not Tested | 1.0% | 1 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 1.0% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 10,947 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 48.90 | 53.5% | 53 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 43.37 | 47.5% | 47 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 27.68 | 30.3% | 30 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 22.15 | 24.2% | 24 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 10.15 | 11.1% | 11 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 8.30 | 9.1% | 9 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 7.38 | 8.1% | 8 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 3.69 | 4.0% | 4 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 2.77 | 3.0% | 3 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 2.77 | 3.0% | 3 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 1.85 | 2.0% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.92 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.92 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.92 | 1.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.92 | 1.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Derbi Senda Sm 125 has 10,947 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Derbi Senda Sm 125 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 40.56% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Derbi Senda Sm 125 MOT Data
The Derbi Senda Sm 125 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 99 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 55.6% and a failure rate of 44.4%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Derbi Senda Sm 125 owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle steering and suspension and motorcycle lighting and signalling for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Senda Sm 125 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 41.4% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 41.4% of MOT failures on the Derbi Senda Sm 125. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 38.4% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 38.4% of MOT failures on the Derbi Senda Sm 125. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle brakes — 26.3% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 26.3% of MOT failures on the Derbi Senda Sm 125. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Derbi Senda Sm 125?
Based on 99 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Derbi Senda Sm 125 has an overall pass rate of 55.6% (44.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Derbi Senda Sm 125?
The top 3 reasons a Derbi Senda Sm 125 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle steering and suspension (41.4%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (38.4%), 3. Motorcycle brakes (26.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Derbi Senda Sm 125 reliable?
With a 44.4% MOT failure rate, the Senda Sm 125 is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Derbi Senda Sm 125?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle steering and suspension (41.4%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (38.4%); Motorcycle brakes (26.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.