HONDA XLR

249cc Petrol Class 2

#3831 of 5426 overall #711 of 921 HONDAs #2428 of 2787 other bikes

78.6%

first-time pass rate

11.1%

failed outright

16,515

median miles at test

570

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The XLR's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (88.6% → 87.9%).

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XLR passes first time 85.1% of the time; by 30k that's 73.3%.

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 XLR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	42	27.8	1.4×
lighting and signalling	29	19.2	0.7×
steering and suspension	18	11.9	0.7×
drive system	14	9.3	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	14	9.3	1.1×
tyres and wheels	13	8.6	0.7×
tyres	8	5.3	1.3×
suspension	5	3.3	1.0×
body and structure	4	2.6	0.7×
reg plates and vin	4	2.6	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 XLR beats 1 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 XLR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1993 (80.0% pass). Weakest: 1998 (70.5%).

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 XLR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XLR reliable?

The HONDA XLR is less reliable than average for its class: 78.6% of its 570 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3831 of 5426 models.

What does a XLR fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 28% of all defects recorded against failed XLR tests.

What is the best year of XLR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1993-registered examples do best (80.0%) and 1998 worst (70.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XLR last?

The median XLR shows 16,515 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 73.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.