Honda Xl 125 V-8 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,124 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 23.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Xl 125 V-8 MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Xl 125 V-8 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,124 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.1% and a failure rate of 23.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Xl 125 V-8 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Xl 125 V-8 presents for MOT with approximately 16,860 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2007 models achieve the highest pass rate at 85.4%, while 2009 models have the lowest at 74.8%. This 10.6 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Xl 125 V-8 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 25.3% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle steering and suspension at 7.8%. Motorcycle drive system rounds out the top three at 7.0%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Honda Xl 125 V-8. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 13 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Honda Xl 125 V-8 shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 35% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 6 (27.2% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
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 Brakes | 26.9% | 572 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 8.1% | 171 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Drive System | 7.1% | 151 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 6.8% | 145 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 6.0% | 127 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 5.4% | 114 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 5.1% | 109 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Suspension | 4.7% | 99 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.8% | 60 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Steering | 2.1% | 44 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.3% | 28 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.5% | 11 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.4% | 9 |
| 14 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.3% | 7 |
| 15 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 7 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 16,860 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 brakes | 15.97 | 26.9% | 572 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 4.78 | 8.1% | 171 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 4.22 | 7.1% | 151 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 4.05 | 6.8% | 145 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 3.55 | 6.0% | 127 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 3.18 | 5.4% | 114 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 3.04 | 5.1% | 109 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 2.76 | 4.7% | 99 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.68 | 2.8% | 60 |
| Motorcycle steering | 1.23 | 2.1% | 44 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.78 | 1.3% | 28 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.31 | 0.5% | 11 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.25 | 0.4% | 9 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.20 | 0.3% | 7 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.20 | 0.3% | 7 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Xl 125 V-8 has 16,860 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 Honda Xl 125 V-8 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 14.18% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Xl 125 V-8 MOT Data
The Honda Xl 125 V-8 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,124 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.1% and a failure rate of 23.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Xl 125 V-8 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle steering and suspension 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 Xl 125 V-8 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 25.3% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 25.3% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl 125 V-8. 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).
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 7.8% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 7.8% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl 125 V-8. 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 drive system — 7.0% of failures
Motorcycle drive system issues account for 7.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl 125 V-8. Motorcycle drive system 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Xl 125 V-8?
Based on 2,124 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Xl 125 V-8 has an overall pass rate of 76.1% (23.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Xl 125 V-8?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Xl 125 V-8 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (25.3%), 2. Motorcycle steering and suspension (7.8%), 3. Motorcycle drive system (7.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Xl 125 V-8 reliable?
With a 23.9% MOT failure rate, the Xl 125 V-8 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Xl 125 V-8?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (25.3%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (7.8%); Motorcycle drive system (7.0%). 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.