HONDA XR650

649cc Petrol Class 2

#3199 of 5426 overall #529 of 921 HONDAs #2032 of 2787 other bikes

81.9%

first-time pass rate

9.5%

failed outright

7,380

median miles at test

4,599

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XR650's first-time pass rate has risen 10.5 points since 2005, 82.8% to 93.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XR650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XR650 passes first time 82.9% of the time; by 50k that's 71.2%.

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 XR650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	438	39.5	1.2×
steering and suspension	152	13.7	0.8×
brakes	148	13.3	0.6×
tyres and wheels	122	11	1.1×
reg plates and vin	86	7.8	2.5×
lamps and reflectors	78	7	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	31	2.8	0.9×
drive system	21	1.9	0.6×
driving controls	17	1.5	1.5×
suspension	16	1.4	0.4×

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 XR650 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 XR650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (89.6% pass). Weakest: 1993 (74.0%).

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 XR650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR650 reliable?

The HONDA XR650 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.9% of its 4,599 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3199 of 5426 models.

What does a XR650 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 39% of all defects recorded against failed XR650 tests.

What is the best year of XR650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (89.6%) and 1993 worst (74.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR650 last?

The median XR650 shows 7,380 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 71.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.