MZ SAXON

291cc Petrol Class 2

#2572 of 5426 overall #10 of 20 MZs #1617 of 2787 other bikes

84.7%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

36,407

median miles at test

601

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2015

The SAXON's first-time pass rate has risen 3.3 points since 2006, 86.7% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage SAXON passes first time 89.5% of the time; by 50k that's 80.3%.

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 SAXON

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	36	36.4	0.8×
brakes	23	23.2	0.5×
steering and suspension	14	14.1	0.5×
tyres and wheels	10	10.1	0.8×
body and structure	6	6.1	2.1×
reg plates and vin	4	4	1.2×
fuel and exhaust	3	3	0.7×
steering	1	1	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	1	1	0.1×
tyres	1	1	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 SAXON beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA RD350, YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F).

YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 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 SAXON.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (86.3% pass). Weakest: 1995 (83.2%).

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 SAXON FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MZ SAXON reliable?

The MZ SAXON is about average for its class: 84.7% of its 601 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2572 of 5426 models.

What does a SAXON fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed SAXON tests.

What is the best year of SAXON to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (86.3%) and 1995 worst (83.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SAXON last?

The median SAXON shows 36,407 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 80.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.