HONDA XL

249cc Petrol Class 2

#3109 of 5426 overall #510 of 921 HONDAs #1979 of 2787 other bikes

82.4%

first-time pass rate

10.8%

failed outright

16,860

median miles at test

2,905

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XL's first-time pass rate has risen 7.8 points since 2006, 77.0% to 84.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XL passes first time 86.6% of the time; by 50k that's 83.5%.

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 XL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	189	26.5	0.9×
brakes	163	22.8	1.0×
steering and suspension	83	11.6	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	65	9.1	1.0×
tyres and wheels	55	7.7	0.7×
structure and attachments	41	5.7	1.7×
suspension	35	4.9	1.3×
drive system	34	4.8	1.0×
tyres	26	3.6	1.1×
steering	23	3.2	1.7×

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 XL 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 XL.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (97.1% pass). Weakest: 2016 (71.8%).

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.

HONDA XL FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL reliable?

The HONDA XL is less reliable than average for its class: 82.4% of its 2,905 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3109 of 5426 models.

What does a XL fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed XL tests.

What is the best year of XL to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (97.1%) and 2016 worst (71.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL last?

The median XL shows 16,860 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.