HONDA XR650R

649cc Petrol Class 2

#3318 of 5426 overall #567 of 921 HONDAs #2114 of 2787 other bikes

81.3%

first-time pass rate

10.0%

failed outright

7,730

median miles at test

902

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XR650R's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.9 points since 2006, 85.0% to 77.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XR650R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XR650R passes first time 79.5% of the time; by 20k that's 84.2%.

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 XR650R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	84	37.5	1.3×
brakes	30	13.4	0.6×
steering and suspension	29	12.9	0.9×
tyres and wheels	23	10.3	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	21	9.4	0.6×
reg plates and vin	20	8.9	2.9×
fuel and exhaust	7	3.1	1.0×
drive system	6	2.7	0.6×
wheels	2	0.9	3.7×
driving controls	2	0.9	0.9×

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 XR650R 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 XR650R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2002 (85.6% pass). Weakest: 2000 (77.2%).

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 XR650R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR650R reliable?

The HONDA XR650R is less reliable than average for its class: 81.3% of its 902 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3318 of 5426 models.

What does a XR650R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 38% of all defects recorded against failed XR650R tests.

What is the best year of XR650R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (85.6%) and 2000 worst (77.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR650R last?

The median XR650R shows 7,730 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 84.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.