BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ FRANCIS BARNETT/CRUISER
Model report · 2005–2025

FRANCIS BARNETT CRUISER

249cc Petrol Class 2
#588 of 5428 overall #1 of 2 FRANCIS BARNETTs #357 of 2788 other bikes
91.4%
first-time pass rate
2.7%
failed outright
15,485
median miles at test
220
MOT tests, 2005–2025

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.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CRUISER's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CRUISER passes first time 93.9% of the time; by 20k that's 90.7%.

85%90%95%0k: 93.9% pass (99 tests)10k: 86.7% pass (30 tests)20k: 90.7% pass (43 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 CRUISER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lamps and reflectors
3 30
steering and suspension
3 30
lighting and signalling
2 20
audible warning (Horn)
1 10
tyres and wheels
1 10

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 CRUISER beats 4 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 CRUISER.

Compare with any bike

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

More FRANCIS BARNETT models

other FRANCIS BARNETT bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
FRANCIS BARNETT FALCON 89.6% pass · 441 tests

See all FRANCIS BARNETT models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1962 (96.2% pass). Weakest: 1962 (96.2%).

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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