HONDA XL185S

184cc Petrol Class 1

#3577 of 5426 overall #635 of 921 HONDAs #2275 of 2787 other bikes

80.0%

first-time pass rate

10.8%

failed outright

14,248

median miles at test

424

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2015

The XL185S's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.7 points since 2006, 81.1% to 79.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL185S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage XL185S passes first time 78.9% of the time; by 20k that's 86.4%.

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 XL185S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	71	51.1
steering and suspension	23	16.5
tyres and wheels	12	8.6
brakes	7	5
reg plates and vin	6	4.3
lamps and reflectors	6	4.3
body and structure	5	3.6
Identification of the vehicle	3	2.2
driving controls	3	2.2
drive system	3	2.2

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the XL185S beats 1 of its 2 closest rivals (BSA BANTAM, HONDA CB TWO FIFTY).

BSA BANTAM 88.7% pass · 7,201 tests HONDA CB TWO FIFTY 77.8% pass · 5,844 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 XL185S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (86.1% pass). Weakest: 1980 (76.7%).

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.