HONDA XL250

249cc Petrol Class 2

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

80.0%

first-time pass rate

11.7%

failed outright

17,499

median miles at test

4,564

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XL250's first-time pass rate has risen 11.1 points since 2005, 78.6% to 89.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL250 passes first time 82.6% of the time; by 50k that's 73.0%.

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 XL250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	637	43.8	1.7×
steering and suspension	228	15.7	1.2×
brakes	166	11.4	0.7×
tyres and wheels	115	7.9	1.0×
drive system	85	5.8	1.8×
lamps and reflectors	82	5.6	0.7×
reg plates and vin	58	4	1.8×
body and structure	37	2.5	1.2×
structure and attachments	25	1.7	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	23	1.6	0.6×

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 XL250 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 XL250.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1989 (88.7% pass). Weakest: 1987 (71.0%).

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 XL250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL250 reliable?

The HONDA XL250 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.0% of its 4,564 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3577 of 5426 models.

What does a XL250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 44% of all defects recorded against failed XL250 tests.

What is the best year of XL250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1989-registered examples do best (88.7%) and 1987 worst (71.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL250 last?

The median XL250 shows 17,499 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.