Honda

Honda Cbf125 (2009)

309 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.5% first-time pass rate

2009 Honda Cbf125

CarHunch analysed 309 real MOT records for the 2009 Honda Cbf125. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 309 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2009 Honda CBF125 is marginally below the UK average for first-time pass rates at 78.5% versus 80%, but that's not your main concern—over a third of these bikes (35.3%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a significant red flag for safety-critical systems. This suggests you should pay close attention to brakes, lights, and chassis condition when inspecting any example.

With a median mileage of 12,896 miles at 15 years old, these are relatively lightly used bikes, yet they're still accumulating an average of 2.16 failures per MOT test, indicating age-related wear is catching up with them. Budget for around 7–8 advisory items per test and always have brakes and steering thoroughly checked by a specialist before purchase, as these are where the dangerous defects are most likely to hide.

The 2009 Honda Cbf125 has a decent first-time pass rate (78.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
78.5%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
35.3%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
2.16
Over 9.1 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
13k
Middle half: 9k–18k
For context
🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 7.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 309 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 309 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 58.2%
Drive chain slightly loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned. · …
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Tyre wear 50.9%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 49.7%
Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose · Handlebar deformed
Brake wear 45.3%
Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · Front Brake binding but not excessively
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 13.5%
Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Exhaust & emissions 10%
Exhaust noisy

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 309 Honda Cbf125 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2009 Honda Cbf125

Based on MOT data from 309 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 308 78.4% 2.16

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,098 Honda Cbf125 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 38.3%
421
Red 29.5%
324
White 20.9%
230
Silver 8.5%
93
Blue 1.1%
12
Yellow 0.9%
10
Grey 0.7%
8

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Honda Cbf125 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

12,896
typical
8,623
low mileage
17,873
high mileage

Half of all 2009 Honda Cbf125 vehicles fall between 8,623 and 17,873 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 8,623 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
8,623–17,873 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Honda Cbf125s sit.
Over 24,128 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Honda Cbf125 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 27% of 2009 Honda Cbf125s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 63 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (27% of peak).

236 63 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

9.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.16
Avg failures per vehicle
7.7
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Honda Cbf125: All Cbf125 years → Which year to buy? →
2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Honda →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Honda Cbf125 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing