BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ ZONGSHEN/ZS 125-30
Model report · 2005–2025

ZONGSHEN ZS 125-30

125cc Petrol Class 1
#5332 of 5428 overall #3 of 3 ZONGSHENs #689 of 734 commuter bikes
55.6%
first-time pass rate
29.8%
failed outright
7,002
median miles at test
329
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-18.0pp
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 · 2011–2015

The ZS 125-30's first-time pass rate has fallen 20.3 points since 2011, 55.6% to 35.3%.

27%52%77%2011: 55.6% pass (45 tests)2012: 62.2% pass (45 tests)2013: 56.1% pass (41 tests)2014: 68.4% pass (38 tests)2015: 35.3% pass (34 tests)20112015

What fails on a ZS 125-30

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
114 36.2
steering and suspension
45 14.3
brakes
44 14
lamps and reflectors
28 8.9
drive system
26 8.3
structure and attachments
20 6.3
tyres and wheels
12 3.8
body and structure
10 3.2
fuel and exhaust
9 2.9
suspension
7 2.2

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 ZS 125-30 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 ZS 125-30.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the ZS 125-30

More ZONGSHEN models

other ZONGSHEN bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
ZONGSHEN ZS 125-50 RANGER 70.7% pass · 420 tests
ZONGSHEN ZS 68.0% pass · 375 tests

See all ZONGSHEN models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (55.5% pass). Weakest: 2009 (55.4%).

55%55%56%2008: 55.5% pass (236 tests)2009: 55.4% pass (56 tests)20082009

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.

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