ZONTES MANTIS

125cc Petrol Class 1

#4977 of 5426 overall #4 of 11 ZONTESs #504 of 734 commuter bikes

65.8%

first-time pass rate

25.7%

failed outright

7,745

median miles at test

538

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2019–2025

The MANTIS's first-time pass rate has fallen 10.2 points since 2019, 72.7% to 62.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage MANTIS passes first time 72.5% of the time; by 20k that's 48.8%.

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 MANTIS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	128	30.5	9.8×
structure and attachments	101	24.1	16.8×
brakes	81	19.3	2.5×
steering	43	10.3	15.2×
suspension	36	8.6	7.1×
tyres	16	3.8	3.8×
audible warning (Horn)	5	1.2	5.1×
wheels	4	1	12.4×
lighting and signalling	4	1	0.1×
steering and suspension	1	0.2	0.1×

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 MANTIS 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 MANTIS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (72.8% pass). Weakest: 2016 (61.3%).

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.

ZONTES MANTIS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the ZONTES MANTIS reliable?

The ZONTES MANTIS is less reliable than average for its class: 65.8% of its 538 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4977 of 5426 models.

What does a MANTIS fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 31% of all defects recorded against failed MANTIS tests.

What is the best year of MANTIS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (72.8%) and 2016 worst (61.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a MANTIS last?

The median MANTIS shows 7,745 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 48.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.