HONDA XR650R-2

649cc Petrol Class 2

#2639 of 5426 overall #399 of 921 HONDAs #1659 of 2787 other bikes

84.4%

first-time pass rate

8.7%

failed outright

5,292

median miles at test

437

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2011

The XR650R-2's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.2 points since 2006, 88.6% to 79.4%.

What fails on a XR650R-2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	53	52.5
reg plates and vin	10	9.9
tyres and wheels	9	8.9
steering and suspension	8	7.9
fuel and exhaust	7	6.9
lamps and reflectors	4	4
brakes	4	4
steering	2	2
Identification of the vehicle	2	2
Items Not Tested	2	2

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the XR650R-2 beats 3 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-2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (88.7% pass). Weakest: 2002 (80.4%).

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.