Bsa Starfire vs Honda XR250

The Bsa Starfire passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda XR250: 90.5% vs 78.8%, a 11.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Bsa Starfire	Honda XR250
First-time pass rate	90.5%	78.8%
Outright fail rate	3.3%	12.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.4 pts	-6.8 pts
Engine size	250cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#800 of 5428	#3805 of 5428
Median miles at test	11,393	8,618
MOT tests analysed	1,257	9,277
Most common failure	steering and suspension	lighting and signalling

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 XR250
Lights & signalling	1.2%	7.1%
Steering & suspension	1.9%	4.8%
Brakes	0.7%	3.8%
Tyres & wheels	0.6%	3.0%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	0.5%
Structure & body	0.2%	0.8%
Drive system	0.1%	0.8%

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 XR250
2011	87.5%	74.6%
2012	88.5%	77.6%
2013	89.1%	75.4%
2014	89.2%	77.8%
2015	87.3%	80.5%
2016	90.4%	78.9%
2017	91.8%	78.2%
2018	96.9%	83.3%

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 XR250
0k-10k miles	88.6%	79.5%
10k-20k miles	91.5%	78.9%
20k-30k miles	91.9%	78.3%
30k-40k miles	96.3%	77.7%

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

Bsa Starfire vs Honda XR250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Bsa Starfire or the Honda XR250?

The Bsa Starfire passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda XR250: 90.5% vs 78.8%, a 11.7-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, -6.8 for the Honda XR250. 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 XR250 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 7.1% of Honda XR250 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (4.8%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Bsa Starfire or the Honda XR250?

At 30k-40k miles the Bsa Starfire passes first time more often: 96.3% for the Bsa Starfire vs 77.7% for the Honda XR250.

BSA STARFIRE 90.5% pass · 1,257 tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests

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