Bsa Starfire vs Honda CBF250

The Bsa Starfire passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBF250: 90.5% vs 84.9%, a 5.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Bsa Starfire	Honda CBF250
First-time pass rate	90.5%	84.9%
Outright fail rate	3.3%	8.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.4 pts	-1.4 pts
Engine size	250cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#800 of 5428	#2516 of 5428
Median miles at test	11,393	10,566
MOT tests analysed	1,257	7,536
Most common failure	steering and suspension	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Bsa Starfire	Honda CBF250
Steering & suspension	1.9%	2.8%
Lights & signalling	1.2%	2.8%
Brakes	0.7%	2.5%
Tyres & wheels	0.6%	2.0%
Drive system	0.1%	1.6%
Structure & body	0.2%	0.5%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	0.1%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Bsa Starfire	Honda CBF250
2011	87.5%	82.9%
2012	88.5%	83.9%
2013	89.1%	82.9%
2014	89.2%	84.0%
2015	87.3%	82.4%
2016	90.4%	87.6%
2017	91.8%	84.2%
2018	96.9%	84.0%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Bsa Starfire	Honda CBF250
0k-10k miles	88.6%	88.5%
10k-20k miles	91.5%	82.6%
20k-30k miles	91.9%	81.6%
30k-40k miles	96.3%	77.0%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Bsa Starfire vs Honda CBF250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Bsa Starfire or the Honda CBF250?

The Bsa Starfire passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBF250: 90.5% vs 84.9%, a 5.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Bsa Starfire still comes out ahead: +6.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Bsa Starfire, -1.4 for the Honda CBF250. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Bsa Starfire fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 1.9% of Bsa Starfire MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (1.2%).

What does the Honda CBF250 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 2.8% of Honda CBF250 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.8%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Bsa Starfire or the Honda CBF250?

At 30k-40k miles the Bsa Starfire passes first time more often: 96.3% for the Bsa Starfire vs 77.0% for the Honda CBF250.

BSA STARFIRE 90.5% pass · 1,257 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.