BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ VELOCETTE/LE
Model report · 2005–2025

VELOCETTE LE

198cc Petrol Class 1
#434 of 5428 overall #10 of 13 VELOCETTEs #268 of 2788 other bikes
92.2%
first-time pass rate
3.3%
failed outright
26,814
median miles at test
1,968
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+12.6pp
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 · 2005–2017

The LE's first-time pass rate has risen 6.9 points since 2005, 87.2% to 94.1%.

85%91%97%2005: 87.2% pass (47 tests)2006: 93.6% pass (203 tests)2007: 91.2% pass (171 tests)2008: 92.9% pass (155 tests)2009: 92.3% pass (168 tests)2010: 89.8% pass (187 tests)2011: 91.4% pass (186 tests)2012: 89.0% pass (163 tests)2013: 92.4% pass (145 tests)2014: 95.1% pass (144 tests)2015: 93.4% pass (122 tests)2016: 92.9% pass (112 tests)2017: 94.1% pass (102 tests)20052017

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 92.3% of the time; by 50k that's 91.9%.

90%92%95%0k: 92.3% pass (401 tests)10k: 93.7% pass (335 tests)20k: 92.5% pass (320 tests)30k: 91.0% pass (288 tests)40k: 93.0% pass (270 tests)50k: 91.9% pass (149 tests)0k30k50k

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 Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
43 27.9 0.3×
steering and suspension
41 26.6 0.4×
brakes
40 26 0.4×
tyres and wheels
16 10.4 0.4×
fuel and exhaust
5 3.2 0.3×
driving controls
4 2.6 0.9×
body and structure
3 1.9 0.3×
reg plates and vin
1 0.6 0.1×
wheels
1 0.6 0.8×

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 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 LE.

Compare with any bike

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

More VELOCETTE models

other VELOCETTE bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
VELOCETTE VENOM 94.4% pass · 5,005 tests
VELOCETTE VIPER 93.8% pass · 1,970 tests
VELOCETTE MAC 92.5% pass · 1,489 tests
VELOCETTE MSS 95.2% pass · 1,232 tests
VELOCETTE THRUXTON 95.3% pass · 570 tests
VELOCETTE KSS 92.3% pass · 559 tests

See all VELOCETTE models →

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%).

86%91%97%1952: 90.0% pass (50 tests)1955: 95.3% pass (86 tests)1958: 95.5% pass (66 tests)1959: 90.0% pass (50 tests)1960: 87.4% pass (135 tests)1961: 93.3% pass (75 tests)1962: 92.4% pass (79 tests)1963: 92.7% pass (82 tests)1964: 95.2% pass (189 tests)1965: 88.7% pass (142 tests)1966: 93.3% pass (178 tests)1967: 95.4% pass (197 tests)1968: 92.0% pass (112 tests)1969: 89.0% pass (136 tests)1970: 94.8% pass (116 tests)1971: 89.9% pass (79 tests)195219641971

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 1,968 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #434 of 5428 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 26,814 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 91.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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