FRANCIS BARNETT FALCON

197cc Petrol Class 1

#1075 of 5426 overall #2 of 2 FRANCIS BARNETTs #661 of 2787 other bikes

89.6%

first-time pass rate

3.9%

failed outright

19,576

median miles at test

441

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2012

The FALCON's first-time pass rate has risen 3.3 points since 2006, 91.8% to 95.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FALCON passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 30k that's 87.3%.

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 FALCON

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	11	35.5
steering and suspension	6	19.4
tyres and wheels	6	19.4
brakes	5	16.1
steering and suspension	1	3.2
brakes	1	3.2
reg plates and vin	1	3.2

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 FALCON beats 4 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 FALCON.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1961 (84.8% pass). Weakest: 1961 (84.8%).

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.