BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
Model report · 2005–2025

HUSABERG FE 450

449cc Petrol Class 2
#3940 of 5426 overall #7 of 8 HUSABERGs #2495 of 2787 other bikes
77.8%
first-time pass rate
12.9%
failed outright
2,695
median miles at test
684
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2019

The FE 450's first-time pass rate has risen 5.5 points since 2008, 77.4% to 82.9%.

60%76%92%2008: 77.4% pass (53 tests)2009: 73.6% pass (53 tests)2010: 83.3% pass (48 tests)2011: 76.2% pass (63 tests)2012: 70.2% pass (57 tests)2013: 81.3% pass (48 tests)2014: 86.5% pass (52 tests)2015: 82.6% pass (46 tests)2016: 75.0% pass (36 tests)2017: 65.6% pass (32 tests)2019: 82.9% pass (35 tests)20082019

What fails on a FE 450

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
63 28.6 1.4×
steering and suspension
36 16.4 1.2×
reg plates and vin
27 12.3 4.3×
lamps and reflectors
24 10.9 1.0×
tyres and wheels
23 10.5 1.3×
brakes
15 6.8 0.4×
suspension
13 5.9 2.0×
tyres
8 3.6 1.3×
Identification of the vehicle
6 2.7 3.8×
drive system
5 2.3 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 FE 450 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).

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 FE 450.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (82.1% pass). Weakest: 2007 (73.7%).

72%78%84%2004: 79.4% pass (228 tests)2005: 82.1% pass (134 tests)2006: 74.5% pass (106 tests)2007: 73.7% pass (57 tests)2008: 74.2% pass (62 tests)200420062008

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.

HUSABERG FE 450 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HUSABERG FE 450 reliable?

The HUSABERG FE 450 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.8% of its 684 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3940 of 5426 models.

What does a FE 450 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed FE 450 tests.

What is the best year of FE 450 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (82.1%) and 2007 worst (73.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.