BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HONDA/CMX250
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HONDA CMX250

233cc Petrol Class 2
#3218 of 5428 overall #537 of 920 HONDAs #2048 of 2788 other bikes
81.8%
first-time pass rate
10.0%
failed outright
10,929
median miles at test
3,965
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-3.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The CMX250's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2005 (82.6% → 83.0%).

69%81%93%2005: 82.6% pass (69 tests)2006: 82.8% pass (308 tests)2007: 81.3% pass (304 tests)2008: 80.3% pass (294 tests)2009: 81.6% pass (266 tests)2010: 73.3% pass (240 tests)2011: 81.7% pass (240 tests)2012: 87.5% pass (224 tests)2013: 80.3% pass (228 tests)2014: 81.2% pass (229 tests)2015: 81.4% pass (210 tests)2016: 84.0% pass (188 tests)2017: 82.1% pass (179 tests)2018: 80.0% pass (135 tests)2019: 79.2% pass (120 tests)2020: 84.5% pass (103 tests)2021: 84.0% pass (144 tests)2022: 83.4% pass (145 tests)2023: 89.1% pass (128 tests)2024: 79.0% pass (105 tests)2025: 83.0% pass (106 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

how the CMX250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CMX250 passes first time 86.1% of the time; by 40k that's 75.0%.

73%81%88%0k: 86.1% pass (1,828 tests)10k: 79.1% pass (1,216 tests)20k: 77.5% pass (550 tests)30k: 78.3% pass (281 tests)40k: 75.0% pass (56 tests)0k20k40k

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 CMX250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
187 22.5 0.8×
lighting and signalling
166 20 0.7×
steering and suspension
146 17.5 1.0×
tyres and wheels
112 13.5 1.2×
drive system
70 8.4 2.0×
lamps and reflectors
46 5.5 0.5×
fuel and exhaust
34 4.1 1.0×
suspension
25 3 0.7×
structure and attachments
24 2.9 0.6×
tyres
22 2.6 0.7×

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 CMX250 beats 2 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 CMX250.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the CMX250

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2003 (87.9%). Lowest: 2001 (77.6%). Every CMX250 year compared →

76%83%90%1985: 79.8% pass (114 tests)1986: 82.3% pass (130 tests)1996: 85.0% pass (618 tests)1997: 80.4% pass (587 tests)1998: 83.2% pass (388 tests)1999: 79.4% pass (620 tests)2000: 83.8% pass (863 tests)2001: 77.6% pass (272 tests)2002: 86.2% pass (94 tests)2003: 87.9% pass (66 tests)198519992003

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 CMX250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CMX250 reliable?

The HONDA CMX250 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.8% of its 3,965 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3218 of 5428 models.

What does a CMX250 fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 22% of all defects recorded against failed CMX250 tests.

What is the best year of CMX250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (87.9%) and 2001 worst (77.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CMX250 last?

The median CMX250 shows 10,929 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 75.0% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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