HONDA 250

249cc Petrol Class 2

#3440 of 5426 overall #597 of 921 HONDAs #2196 of 2787 other bikes

80.7%

first-time pass rate

10.5%

failed outright

14,862

median miles at test

731

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The 250's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.3 points since 2006, 87.0% to 75.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the 250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 250 passes first time 81.0% of the time; by 40k that's 70.0%.

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 250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	71	32.6	1.4×
steering and suspension	32	14.7	1.0×
brakes	32	14.7	0.8×
tyres and wheels	23	10.6	1.2×
drive system	23	10.6	2.7×
lamps and reflectors	10	4.6	0.3×
reg plates and vin	9	4.1	1.7×
tyres	6	2.8	0.8×
body and structure	6	2.8	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	6	2.8	1.1×

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 250 beats 2 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 250.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (88.5% pass). Weakest: 1996 (70.9%).

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.

HONDA 250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA 250 reliable?

The HONDA 250 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.7% of its 731 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3440 of 5426 models.

What does a 250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 33% of all defects recorded against failed 250 tests.

What is the best year of 250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (88.5%) and 1996 worst (70.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 250 last?

The median 250 shows 14,862 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 70.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.