HONDA NSR

242cc Petrol Class 2

#4420 of 5426 overall #842 of 921 HONDAs #2707 of 2787 other bikes

73.8%

first-time pass rate

18.2%

failed outright

16,344

median miles at test

1,387

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The NSR's first-time pass rate has risen 22.8 points since 2006, 63.2% to 86.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage NSR passes first time 82.0% of the time; by 40k that's 46.7%.

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 NSR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	233	30.5	2.3×
steering and suspension	165	21.6	2.7×
brakes	147	19.2	1.8×
lamps and reflectors	51	6.7	1.4×
drive system	46	6	4.0×
tyres and wheels	43	5.6	1.4×
body and structure	21	2.7	2.6×
fuel and exhaust	20	2.6	1.8×
suspension	19	2.5	1.3×
structure and attachments	19	2.5	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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the NSR beats 0 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 NSR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (86.2% pass). Weakest: 1999 (51.9%).

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 NSR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA NSR reliable?

The HONDA NSR is less reliable than average for its class: 73.8% of its 1,387 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4420 of 5426 models.

What does a NSR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 30% of all defects recorded against failed NSR tests.

What is the best year of NSR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (86.2%) and 1999 worst (51.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a NSR last?

The median NSR shows 16,344 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 46.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.