BULTACO SHERPA

250cc Petrol Class 2

#2543 of 5426 overall #1 of 1 BULTACOs #1597 of 2787 other bikes

84.8%

first-time pass rate

5.9%

failed outright

320

median miles at test

355

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2015

The SHERPA's first-time pass rate has risen 5.1 points since 2013, 74.3% to 79.4%.

What fails on a SHERPA

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	17	28.3
tyres and wheels	10	16.7
reg plates and vin	10	16.7
lighting and signalling	8	13.3
brakes	7	11.7
driving controls	4	6.7
drive system	2	3.3
fuel and exhaust	1	1.7
body and structure	1	1.7

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 SHERPA beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 SHERPA.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (74.5% pass). Weakest: 1979 (74.5%).

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.