HERALD MOTOR COMPANY CLASSIC
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
The CLASSIC's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2018 (84.1% → 83.7%).
What fails on a CLASSIC
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lamps and reflectors |
|
120 | 41.8 | 3.5× |
| brakes |
|
58 | 20.2 | 0.7× |
| structure and attachments |
|
37 | 12.9 | 3.6× |
| suspension |
|
27 | 9.4 | 2.6× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
17 | 5.9 | 5.7× |
| tyres |
|
8 | 2.8 | 0.9× |
| wheels |
|
6 | 2.1 | 6.5× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
6 | 2.1 | 0.1× |
| steering |
|
5 | 1.7 | 0.9× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
3 | 1 | 1.3× |
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
On first-time pass rate the CLASSIC beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).
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 CLASSIC.
Compare with any bike
More HERALD MOTOR COMPANY models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2016 (79.5% pass). Weakest: 2015 (78.9%).
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.
HERALD MOTOR COMPANY CLASSIC FAQ
Is the HERALD MOTOR COMPANY CLASSIC reliable?
The HERALD MOTOR COMPANY CLASSIC is less reliable than average for its class: 79.6% of its 1,285 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3668 of 5428 models.
What does a CLASSIC fail its MOT on most?
lamps and reflectors — 42% of all defects recorded against failed CLASSIC tests.
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