BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/TZR
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA TZR

125cc Petrol Class 1
#4731 of 5428 overall #364 of 409 YAMAHAs #377 of 734 commuter bikes
70.1%
first-time pass rate
20.1%
failed outright
21,209
median miles at test
1,067
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-6.8pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The TZR's first-time pass rate has risen 8.0 points since 2006, 72.0% to 80.0%.

44%72%99%2006: 72.0% pass (93 tests)2007: 53.2% pass (79 tests)2008: 54.1% pass (74 tests)2009: 69.2% pass (65 tests)2010: 69.8% pass (63 tests)2011: 62.2% pass (74 tests)2012: 63.9% pass (72 tests)2013: 57.6% pass (66 tests)2014: 73.1% pass (67 tests)2015: 74.5% pass (51 tests)2016: 71.1% pass (38 tests)2017: 78.1% pass (32 tests)2018: 90.0% pass (30 tests)2019: 81.8% pass (33 tests)2020: 83.9% pass (31 tests)2021: 88.6% pass (35 tests)2022: 89.2% pass (37 tests)2023: 82.1% pass (39 tests)2025: 80.0% pass (40 tests)20062025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage TZR passes first time 77.4% of the time; by 40k that's 64.1%.

57%69%81%0k: 77.4% pass (137 tests)10k: 76.8% pass (349 tests)20k: 65.8% pass (325 tests)30k: 60.8% pass (143 tests)40k: 64.1% pass (64 tests)0k20k40k

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 TZR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
293 34.2 3.1×
steering and suspension
214 25 3.6×
brakes
119 13.9 1.7×
drive system
65 7.6 6.0×
tyres and wheels
54 6.3 2.0×
body and structure
42 4.9 6.4×
fuel and exhaust
20 2.3 2.3×
lamps and reflectors
20 2.3 0.7×
reg plates and vin
17 2 2.8×
structure and attachments
12 1.4 1.0×

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 TZR beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 TZR.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the TZR

More YAMAHA models

other YAMAHA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
YAMAHA YZF-R1 84.1% pass · 232k tests
YAMAHA YZF-R6 79.0% pass · 155k tests
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests
YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests
YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k tests

See all YAMAHA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1992 (77.9%). Lowest: 1988 (68.2%). Every TZR year compared →

66%73%80%1987: 74.6% pass (67 tests)1988: 68.2% pass (107 tests)1989: 74.6% pass (177 tests)1990: 70.6% pass (221 tests)1991: 70.0% pass (110 tests)1992: 77.9% pass (122 tests)198719901992

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.

YAMAHA TZR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA TZR reliable?

The YAMAHA TZR is less reliable than average for its class: 70.1% of its 1,067 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4731 of 5428 models.

What does a TZR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 34% of all defects recorded against failed TZR tests.

What is the best year of TZR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1992-registered examples do best (77.9%) and 1988 worst (68.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TZR last?

The median TZR shows 21,209 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 64.1% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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