HONDA XR400R

397cc Petrol Class 2

#3940 of 5426 overall #745 of 921 HONDAs #2495 of 2787 other bikes

77.8%

first-time pass rate

11.9%

failed outright

6,953

median miles at test

951

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XR400R's first-time pass rate has risen 9.3 points since 2006, 74.6% to 83.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XR400R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XR400R passes first time 75.8% of the time; by 20k that's 85.2%.

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 XR400R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	119	37.9	1.6×
steering and suspension	53	16.9	1.3×
tyres and wheels	43	13.7	1.7×
reg plates and vin	36	11.5	5.0×
brakes	19	6.1	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	14	4.5	0.5×
drive system	11	3.5	1.2×
fuel and exhaust	11	3.5	1.2×
Identification of the vehicle	5	1.6	2.3×
Items Not Tested	3	1	2.3×

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 XR400R 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 XR400R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (84.8% pass). Weakest: 2002 (73.0%).

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 XR400R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR400R reliable?

The HONDA XR400R is less reliable than average for its class: 77.8% of its 951 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3940 of 5426 models.

What does a XR400R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 38% of all defects recorded against failed XR400R tests.

What is the best year of XR400R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (84.8%) and 2002 worst (73.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR400R last?

The median XR400R shows 6,953 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 85.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.