MZ TS125

123cc Petrol Class 1

#2866 of 5426 overall #12 of 20 MZs #42 of 734 commuter bikes

83.4%

first-time pass rate

8.5%

failed outright

13,302

median miles at test

968

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2021

The TS125's first-time pass rate has risen 2.6 points since 2006, 81.8% to 84.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the TS125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage TS125 passes first time 81.4% of the time; by 30k that's 83.9%.

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 TS125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	91	43.1	1.2×
steering and suspension	31	14.7	0.8×
tyres and wheels	24	11.4	1.2×
brakes	22	10.4	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	16	7.6	0.5×
body and structure	7	3.3	1.1×
reg plates and vin	7	3.3	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	5	2.4	0.7×
suspension	4	1.9	0.4×
structure and attachments	4	1.9	0.6×

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 TS125 beats 4 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 TS125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (86.3% pass). Weakest: 1979 (76.5%).

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 TS125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MZ TS125 reliable?

The MZ TS125 is more reliable than average for its class: 83.4% of its 968 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #2866 of 5426 models.

What does a TS125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 43% of all defects recorded against failed TS125 tests.

What is the best year of TS125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1983-registered examples do best (86.3%) and 1979 worst (76.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TS125 last?

The median TS125 shows 13,302 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 83.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.