MZ TS250/1

243cc Petrol Class 2

#1784 of 5426 overall #5 of 20 MZs #1084 of 2787 other bikes

87.4%

first-time pass rate

6.5%

failed outright

21,618

median miles at test

889

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The TS250/1's first-time pass rate has risen 9.4 points since 2006, 88.0% to 97.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the TS250/1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage TS250/1 passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 50k that's 80.5%.

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 TS250/1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	36	29.3	0.8×
brakes	29	23.6	0.5×
tyres and wheels	23	18.7	1.0×
steering and suspension	12	9.8	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	7	5.7	1.0×
sidecar	5	4.1	—
reg plates and vin	4	3.3	0.8×
driving controls	3	2.4	1.4×
body and structure	2	1.6	0.5×
tyres	2	1.6	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 TS250/1 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 TS250/1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 1978 (82.6%).

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 TS250/1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MZ TS250/1 reliable?

The MZ TS250/1 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.4% of its 889 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1784 of 5426 models.

What does a TS250/1 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed TS250/1 tests.

What is the best year of TS250/1 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1979-registered examples do best (90.7%) and 1978 worst (82.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TS250/1 last?

The median TS250/1 shows 21,618 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 80.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.