HERALD MOTOR COMPANY XF

125cc Petrol Class 1

#4958 of 5426 overall #2 of 2 HERALD MOTOR COMPANYs #495 of 734 commuter bikes

66.1%

first-time pass rate

18.8%

failed outright

5,213

median miles at test

1,923

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2017–2025

The XF's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.1 points since 2017, 68.0% to 65.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XF passes first time 68.7% of the time; by 20k that's 61.7%.

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 XF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	475	45	8.3×
structure and attachments	246	23.3	11.5×
brakes	115	10.9	1.0×
suspension	62	5.9	4.2×
lighting and signalling	45	4.3	0.3×
steering	34	3.2	4.0×
tyres	32	3	2.4×
Identification of the vehicle	19	1.8	4.3×
wheels	14	1.3	12.1×
steering and suspension	13	1.2	0.2×

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 XF beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k 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 XF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2016 (68.3% pass). Weakest: 2013 (54.8%).

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.

HERALD MOTOR COMPANY XF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HERALD MOTOR COMPANY XF reliable?

The HERALD MOTOR COMPANY XF is less reliable than average for its class: 66.1% of its 1,923 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4958 of 5426 models.

What does a XF fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 45% of all defects recorded against failed XF tests.

What is the best year of XF to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2016-registered examples do best (68.3%) and 2013 worst (54.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XF last?

The median XF shows 5,213 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 61.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.