Suzuki Vl125 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 10,897 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 29.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Suzuki Vl125 MOT Reliability Overview
The Suzuki Vl125 is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 10,897 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 10 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.7% and a failure rate of 29.3%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Suzuki Vl125 earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Suzuki Vl125 presents for MOT with approximately 15,064 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2007 models achieve the highest pass rate at 76.4%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 64.3%. This 12.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Suzuki Vl125 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 18.2% 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 drive system at 12.1%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling rounds out the top three at 12.0%. 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
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 4 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Suzuki Vl125 vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 21 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Suzuki Vl125. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 4 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Suzuki Vl125 shows a relatively stable failure rate after warranty — the change of 0% is negligible. Peak failure occurs at age 16 (34.1% 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 | 20.8% | 2,271 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Drive System | 14.6% | 1,587 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 13.5% | 1,472 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 12.7% | 1,382 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 9.4% | 1,023 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 5.6% | 609 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 4.6% | 498 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 4.4% | 482 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 2.4% | 257 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.6% | 172 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.4% | 154 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 1.4% | 149 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 1.2% | 134 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.9% | 103 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.8% | 82 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 15,064 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 | 13.83 | 20.8% | 2,271 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 9.67 | 14.6% | 1,587 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 8.97 | 13.5% | 1,472 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 8.42 | 12.7% | 1,382 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 6.23 | 9.4% | 1,023 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 3.71 | 5.6% | 609 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 3.03 | 4.6% | 498 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 2.94 | 4.4% | 482 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 1.57 | 2.4% | 257 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.05 | 1.6% | 172 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.94 | 1.4% | 154 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.91 | 1.4% | 149 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.82 | 1.2% | 134 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.63 | 0.9% | 103 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.50 | 0.8% | 82 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Suzuki Vl125 has 15,064 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 Suzuki Vl125 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 19.45% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Suzuki Vl125 MOT Data
The Suzuki Vl125 is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 10,897 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 10 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.7% and a failure rate of 29.3%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Suzuki Vl125 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 drive system 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 Vl125 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 18.2% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 18.2% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Vl125. 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 drive system — 12.1% of failures
Motorcycle drive system issues account for 12.1% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Vl125. 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.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.0% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 12.0% of MOT failures on the Suzuki Vl125. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki Vl125?
Based on 10,897 MOT tests in our database, the Suzuki Vl125 has an overall pass rate of 70.7% (29.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Suzuki Vl125?
The top 3 reasons a Suzuki Vl125 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (18.2%), 2. Motorcycle drive system (12.1%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (12.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Suzuki Vl125 reliable?
With a 29.3% MOT failure rate, the Vl125 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Suzuki Vl125?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (18.2%); Motorcycle drive system (12.1%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (12.0%). 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.