PANTHER 120

650cc Petrol Class 2

#1024 of 5426 overall #4 of 4 PANTHERs #627 of 2787 other bikes

89.8%

first-time pass rate

1.6%

failed outright

19,721

median miles at test

314

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2010

The 120's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.5 points since 2006, 90.9% to 84.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the 120's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 120 passes first time 89.1% of the time; by 40k that's 96.9%.

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 120

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	5	45.5
brakes	3	27.3
steering and suspension	2	18.2
tyres and wheels	1	9.1

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 120 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 120.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1964 (94.6% pass). Weakest: 1960 (88.2%).

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.