HONDA XR

397cc Petrol Class 2

#3626 of 5426 overall #651 of 921 HONDAs #2313 of 2787 other bikes

79.8%

first-time pass rate

11.7%

failed outright

8,866

median miles at test

3,369

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XR's first-time pass rate has risen 2.2 points since 2005, 84.0% to 86.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XR passes first time 80.9% of the time; by 40k that's 83.3%.

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 XR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	318	29.5	1.2×
steering and suspension	170	15.8	1.3×
brakes	170	15.8	0.8×
tyres and wheels	109	10.1	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	100	9.3	1.0×
reg plates and vin	74	6.9	3.0×
drive system	52	4.8	1.4×
suspension	30	2.8	0.8×
structure and attachments	29	2.7	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	27	2.5	1.0×

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 XR beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 XR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2002 (90.4% pass). Weakest: 2006 (69.8%).

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 XR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR reliable?

The HONDA XR is less reliable than average for its class: 79.8% of its 3,369 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3626 of 5426 models.

What does a XR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed XR tests.

What is the best year of XR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (90.4%) and 2006 worst (69.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR last?

The median XR shows 8,866 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 83.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.