BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ ZONGSHEN/ZS 125-50 RANGER
Model report · 2005–2025

ZONGSHEN ZS 125-50 RANGER

124cc Petrol Class 1
#4685 of 5428 overall #1 of 3 ZONGSHENs #356 of 734 commuter bikes
70.7%
first-time pass rate
20.7%
failed outright
8,281
median miles at test
420
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-2.8pp
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 · 2014–2019

The ZS 125-50 RANGER's first-time pass rate has risen 12.2 points since 2014, 68.4% to 80.6%.

60%72%85%2014: 68.4% pass (38 tests)2015: 71.0% pass (62 tests)2016: 66.7% pass (72 tests)2017: 63.9% pass (61 tests)2018: 73.0% pass (37 tests)2019: 80.6% pass (31 tests)20142019

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZS 125-50 RANGER's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage ZS 125-50 RANGER passes first time 77.5% of the time; by 20k that's 64.4%.

61%71%80%0k: 77.5% pass (240 tests)10k: 64.0% pass (114 tests)20k: 64.4% pass (45 tests)0k10k20k

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 ZS 125-50 RANGER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
52 21.3
drive system
41 16.8
brakes
37 15.2
lamps and reflectors
35 14.3
steering and suspension
25 10.2
structure and attachments
20 8.2
tyres and wheels
15 6.1
steering
8 3.3
suspension
6 2.5
tyres
5 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 125-50 RANGER 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 125-50 RANGER.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the ZS 125-50 Ranger

More ZONGSHEN models

other ZONGSHEN bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
ZONGSHEN ZS 68.0% pass · 375 tests
ZONGSHEN ZS 125-30 55.6% pass · 329 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: 2011 (73.4% pass). Weakest: 2010 (64.0%).

62%69%75%2010: 64.0% pass (50 tests)2011: 73.4% pass (139 tests)2012: 69.0% pass (116 tests)2013: 71.0% pass (107 tests)201020122013

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.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Zongshen ZS 125-50 Ranger reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.