MZ RT125

124cc Petrol Class 1

#4748 of 5426 overall #18 of 20 MZs #385 of 734 commuter bikes

69.8%

first-time pass rate

19.5%

failed outright

9,541

median miles at test

850

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The RT125's first-time pass rate has risen 15.1 points since 2006, 69.7% to 84.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RT125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage RT125 passes first time 73.2% of the time; by 20k that's 64.3%.

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 RT125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	161	31.7	2.7×
steering and suspension	125	24.6	3.3×
brakes	94	18.5	1.9×
drive system	75	14.8	8.0×
tyres and wheels	21	4.1	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	8	1.6	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	7	1.4	1.1×
structure and attachments	6	1.2	0.5×
driving controls	6	1.2	3.0×
Items Not Tested	5	1	6.4×

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 RT125 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k 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 RT125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (80.1% pass). Weakest: 2004 (57.5%).

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 RT125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MZ RT125 reliable?

The MZ RT125 is less reliable than average for its class: 69.8% of its 850 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4748 of 5426 models.

What does a RT125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed RT125 tests.

What is the best year of RT125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (80.1%) and 2004 worst (57.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RT125 last?

The median RT125 shows 9,541 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 64.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.