BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BETA/ALP
Model report · 2005–2025

BETA ALP

200cc Petrol Class 1
#3649 of 5428 overall #8 of 9 BETAs #2325 of 2788 other bikes
79.7%
first-time pass rate
7.3%
failed outright
4,459
median miles at test
646
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-1.5pp
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 · 2006–2017

The ALP's first-time pass rate has risen 12.5 points since 2006, 71.4% to 83.9%.

61%75%90%2006: 71.4% pass (35 tests)2007: 85.0% pass (40 tests)2008: 80.0% pass (35 tests)2009: 68.3% pass (41 tests)2010: 75.7% pass (37 tests)2011: 71.1% pass (38 tests)2012: 84.6% pass (39 tests)2013: 80.5% pass (41 tests)2014: 77.1% pass (35 tests)2015: 79.5% pass (39 tests)2016: 65.6% pass (32 tests)2017: 83.9% pass (31 tests)20062017

What fails on a ALP

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
26 25.7 0.6×
steering and suspension
25 24.8 0.9×
brakes
17 16.8 0.5×
reg plates and vin
11 10.9 2.2×
tyres and wheels
7 6.9 0.4×
lamps and reflectors
5 5 0.4×
suspension
4 4 0.6×
body and structure
2 2 0.6×
structure and attachments
2 2 0.2×
drive system
2 2 0.4×

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 ALP beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 ALP.

Compare with any bike

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

More BETA models

other BETA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
BETA RR 80.9% pass · 3,198 tests
BETA XTRAINER 81.2% pass · 1,959 tests
BETA ALP 4T-200 81.5% pass · 1,144 tests
BETA EVO 90.7% pass · 954 tests
BETA REV-3 87.6% pass · 718 tests
BETA ALP 4.0 80.1% pass · 336 tests

See all BETA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (81.4% pass). Weakest: 2001 (70.9%).

69%76%84%2001: 70.9% pass (86 tests)2002: 80.7% pass (150 tests)2003: 79.4% pass (277 tests)2004: 81.4% pass (86 tests)200120032004

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.

BETA ALP FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BETA ALP reliable?

The BETA ALP is more reliable than average for its class: 79.7% of its 646 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3649 of 5428 models.

What does a ALP fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed ALP tests.

What is the best year of ALP to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (81.4%) and 2001 worst (70.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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