VELOCETTE LE

198cc Petrol Class 1

#433 of 5426 overall #10 of 13 VELOCETTEs #267 of 2787 other bikes

92.2%

first-time pass rate

3.3%

failed outright

26,697

median miles at test

1,938

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2017

The LE's first-time pass rate has risen 7.4 points since 2005, 86.7% to 94.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the LE's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage LE passes first time 92.1% of the time; by 50k that's 91.9%.

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 LE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	43	28.1	0.4×
steering and suspension	41	26.8	0.4×
brakes	39	25.5	0.4×
tyres and wheels	16	10.5	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	5	3.3	0.3×
driving controls	4	2.6	0.9×
body and structure	3	2	0.3×
reg plates and vin	1	0.7	0.1×
wheels	1	0.7	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 LE beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 LE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1958 (95.5% pass). Weakest: 1960 (87.4%).

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.

VELOCETTE LE FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VELOCETTE LE reliable?

The VELOCETTE LE is more reliable than average for its class: 92.2% of its 1,938 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #433 of 5426 models.

What does a LE fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed LE tests.

What is the best year of LE to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1958-registered examples do best (95.5%) and 1960 worst (87.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a LE last?

The median LE shows 26,697 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 91.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.