YAMAHA TZR125

124cc Petrol Class 1

#5249 of 5426 overall #405 of 409 YAMAHAs #642 of 734 commuter bikes

58.7%

first-time pass rate

30.2%

failed outright

25,364

median miles at test

4,378

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The TZR125's first-time pass rate has risen 19.0 points since 2005, 56.0% to 75.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the TZR125's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage TZR125 passes first time 70.8% of the time; by 50k that's 59.3%.

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 TZR125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	1,921	35.9	4.9×
steering and suspension	1,375	25.7	5.8×
brakes	844	15.8	2.9×
tyres and wheels	291	5.4	2.7×
body and structure	280	5.2	9.6×
drive system	276	5.2	6.9×
lamps and reflectors	116	2.2	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	108	2	3.1×
driving controls	72	1.3	6.7×
reg plates and vin	68	1.3	2.6×

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 TZR125 beats 0 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 TZR125.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (63.8% pass). Weakest: 1991 (54.0%).

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 TZR125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA TZR125 reliable?

The YAMAHA TZR125 is less reliable than average for its class: 58.7% of its 4,378 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5249 of 5426 models.

What does a TZR125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed TZR125 tests.

What is the best year of TZR125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (63.8%) and 1991 worst (54.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TZR125 last?

The median TZR125 shows 25,364 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 59.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.