YAMAHA XT250

249cc Petrol Class 2

#3378 of 5426 overall #219 of 409 YAMAHAs #2157 of 2787 other bikes

81.0%

first-time pass rate

9.6%

failed outright

17,847

median miles at test

2,490

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The XT250's first-time pass rate has risen 5.7 points since 2005, 80.4% to 86.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XT250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XT250 passes first time 87.5% of the time; by 50k that's 84.4%.

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 XT250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	318	49.8	1.4×
steering and suspension	102	16	0.9×
brakes	55	8.6	0.4×
tyres and wheels	41	6.4	0.7×
drive system	27	4.2	1.1×
reg plates and vin	25	3.9	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	23	3.6	0.4×
body and structure	18	2.8	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	15	2.3	0.8×
suspension	15	2.3	0.6×

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 XT250 beats 2 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 XT250.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (92.5% pass). Weakest: 1985 (69.2%).

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.

YAMAHA XT250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT250 reliable?

The YAMAHA XT250 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.0% of its 2,490 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3378 of 5426 models.

What does a XT250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 50% of all defects recorded against failed XT250 tests.

What is the best year of XT250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (92.5%) and 1985 worst (69.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT250 last?

The median XT250 shows 17,847 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.