MZ ETZ250

243cc Petrol Class 2

#2016 of 5426 overall #6 of 20 MZs #1223 of 2787 other bikes

86.6%

first-time pass rate

5.6%

failed outright

27,080

median miles at test

2,568

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The ETZ250's first-time pass rate has risen 5.6 points since 2005, 83.3% to 88.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ETZ250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ETZ250 passes first time 81.1% of the time; by 50k that's 94.1%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a ETZ250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	94	33.6	0.6×
brakes	65	23.2	0.4×
steering and suspension	50	17.9	0.6×
tyres and wheels	32	11.4	0.6×
body and structure	9	3.2	0.6×
tyres	8	2.9	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	7	2.5	0.1×
reg plates and vin	6	2.1	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	5	1.8	0.2×
suspension	4	1.4	0.2×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the ETZ250 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the ETZ250.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1984 (91.8% pass). Weakest: 1981 (80.3%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

MZ ETZ250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MZ ETZ250 reliable?

The MZ ETZ250 is about average for its class: 86.6% of its 2,568 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2016 of 5426 models.

What does a ETZ250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed ETZ250 tests.

What is the best year of ETZ250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1984-registered examples do best (91.8%) and 1981 worst (80.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ETZ250 last?

The median ETZ250 shows 27,080 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 94.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.