MZ TS250

243cc Petrol Class 2

#1478 of 5426 overall #2 of 20 MZs #898 of 2787 other bikes

88.4%

first-time pass rate

4.7%

failed outright

22,824

median miles at test

1,408

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2019

The TS250's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (89.4% → 90.0%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the TS250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage TS250 passes first time 90.8% of the time; by 50k that's 70.0%.

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 TS250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	60	41.1	0.6×
brakes	29	19.9	0.4×
tyres and wheels	21	14.4	0.6×
steering and suspension	16	11	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	8	5.5	0.6×
body and structure	6	4.1	0.7×
reg plates and vin	3	2.1	0.4×
Items Not Tested	2	1.4	1.5×
driving controls	1	0.7	0.3×

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 TS250 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 TS250.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1977 (93.5% pass). Weakest: 1981 (86.6%).

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 TS250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MZ TS250 reliable?

The MZ TS250 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.4% of its 1,408 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1478 of 5426 models.

What does a TS250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 41% of all defects recorded against failed TS250 tests.

What is the best year of TS250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1977-registered examples do best (93.5%) and 1981 worst (86.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TS250 last?

The median TS250 shows 22,824 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 70.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.