YAMAHA XVS250

249cc Petrol Class 2

#2467 of 5426 overall #135 of 409 YAMAHAs #1543 of 2787 other bikes

85.1%

first-time pass rate

9.1%

failed outright

8,673

median miles at test

2,945

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The XVS250's first-time pass rate has risen 4.5 points since 2006, 83.3% to 87.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XVS250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XVS250 passes first time 89.1% of the time; by 30k that's 69.0%.

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 XVS250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	109	22.4	0.7×
lighting and signalling	98	20.1	0.6×
tyres and wheels	76	15.6	1.1×
steering and suspension	73	15	0.7×
drive system	36	7.4	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	33	6.8	1.4×
lamps and reflectors	25	5.1	0.4×
structure and attachments	18	3.7	0.6×
suspension	11	2.3	0.4×
driving controls	8	1.6	1.2×

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 XVS250 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 XVS250.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (88.9% pass). Weakest: 1997 (78.9%).

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 XVS250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XVS250 reliable?

The YAMAHA XVS250 is about average for its class: 85.1% of its 2,945 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2467 of 5426 models.

What does a XVS250 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 22% of all defects recorded against failed XVS250 tests.

What is the best year of XVS250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (88.9%) and 1997 worst (78.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XVS250 last?

The median XVS250 shows 8,673 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 69.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.