BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HUSQVARNA/TE450
Model report · 2005–2025

HUSQVARNA TE450

450cc Petrol Class 2
#4397 of 5428 overall #39 of 43 HUSQVARNAs #2698 of 2788 other bikes
74.0%
first-time pass rate
15.1%
failed outright
2,223
median miles at test
1,136
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-14.3pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2007–2023

The TE450's first-time pass rate has risen 7.3 points since 2007, 65.7% to 73.0%.

61%75%89%2007: 65.7% pass (35 tests)2008: 73.3% pass (45 tests)2009: 72.4% pass (58 tests)2010: 78.1% pass (73 tests)2011: 69.8% pass (86 tests)2012: 81.0% pass (84 tests)2013: 73.3% pass (75 tests)2014: 77.6% pass (98 tests)2015: 74.7% pass (83 tests)2016: 70.4% pass (81 tests)2017: 73.8% pass (80 tests)2018: 68.9% pass (45 tests)2019: 79.1% pass (43 tests)2020: 84.2% pass (38 tests)2021: 70.2% pass (57 tests)2022: 71.7% pass (53 tests)2023: 73.0% pass (37 tests)20072023

What fails on a TE450

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
171 30.5 1.8×
steering and suspension
114 20.4 2.1×
brakes
62 11.1 0.9×
suspension
51 9.1 3.5×
lamps and reflectors
51 9.1 1.7×
reg plates and vin
49 8.8 4.6×
tyres and wheels
28 5 0.9×
structure and attachments
13 2.3 1.0×
tyres
12 2.1 1.3×
audible warning (Horn)
9 1.6 4.3×

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 TE450 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA XV535 82.7% pass · 48.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 TE450.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the TE450

More HUSQVARNA models

other HUSQVARNA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HUSQVARNA FE 80.5% pass · 2,136 tests
HUSQVARNA TE 79.5% pass · 2,058 tests
HUSQVARNA SM610S 78.0% pass · 1,583 tests
HUSQVARNA TE250 74.9% pass · 1,442 tests
HUSQVARNA TE610E 75.2% pass · 1,180 tests
HUSQVARNA WR250 74.7% pass · 899 tests

See all HUSQVARNA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (78.0% pass). Weakest: 2007 (67.9%).

66%73%80%2003: 74.8% pass (119 tests)2004: 76.2% pass (281 tests)2005: 73.6% pass (91 tests)2006: 78.0% pass (127 tests)2007: 67.9% pass (187 tests)2008: 72.7% pass (128 tests)2009: 68.7% pass (67 tests)2011: 73.0% pass (74 tests)200320072011

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.

HUSQVARNA TE450 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HUSQVARNA TE450 reliable?

The HUSQVARNA TE450 is less reliable than average for its class: 74.0% of its 1,136 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4397 of 5428 models.

What does a TE450 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed TE450 tests.

What is the best year of TE450 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (78.0%) and 2007 worst (67.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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