BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ MONTESA/COTA 4RT
Model report · 2005–2025

MONTESA COTA 4RT

249cc Petrol Class 2
#884 of 5428 overall #1 of 3 MONTESAs #537 of 2788 other bikes
90.2%
first-time pass rate
5.6%
failed outright
969
median miles at test
732
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+1.3pp
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 · 2009–2023

The COTA 4RT's first-time pass rate has risen 2.5 points since 2009, 89.4% to 91.9%.

80%89%98%2009: 89.4% pass (47 tests)2010: 83.0% pass (53 tests)2011: 90.5% pass (63 tests)2012: 91.7% pass (60 tests)2013: 88.9% pass (63 tests)2014: 92.1% pass (63 tests)2015: 92.3% pass (39 tests)2016: 85.0% pass (40 tests)2017: 87.5% pass (32 tests)2020: 93.8% pass (48 tests)2021: 93.5% pass (31 tests)2022: 94.9% pass (39 tests)2023: 91.9% pass (37 tests)20092023

What fails on a COTA 4RT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
steering and suspension
22 23.4 0.7×
tyres and wheels
20 21.3 0.9×
reg plates and vin
17 18.1 1.9×
lighting and signalling
16 17 0.5×
brakes
8 8.5 0.2×
steering
3 3.2 1.0×
tyres
2 2.1 0.2×
Items Not Tested
2 2.1 1.5×
Identification of the vehicle
2 2.1 1.2×
suspension
2 2.1 0.2×

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 COTA 4RT beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 COTA 4RT.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Cota 4RT

More MONTESA models

other MONTESA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
MONTESA 4RIDE 88.7% pass · 300 tests
MONTESA COTA 84.7% pass · 242 tests

See all MONTESA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (95.3% pass). Weakest: 2006 (86.4%).

85%91%97%2005: 89.3% pass (103 tests)2006: 86.4% pass (177 tests)2007: 95.3% pass (106 tests)2008: 89.7% pass (68 tests)2017: 93.2% pass (103 tests)200520072017

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.

MONTESA COTA 4RT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MONTESA COTA 4RT reliable?

The MONTESA COTA 4RT is more reliable than average for its class: 90.2% of its 732 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #884 of 5428 models.

What does a COTA 4RT fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 23% of all defects recorded against failed COTA 4RT tests.

What is the best year of COTA 4RT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (95.3%) and 2006 worst (86.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Montesa Cota 4RT reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.