Honda SH 300 A-K vs Yamaha WR250F

The Honda SH 300 A-K passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha WR250F: 93.2% vs 78.0%, a 15.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda SH 300 A-K	Yamaha WR250F
First-time pass rate	93.2%	78.0%
Outright fail rate	3.9%	12.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+4.9 pts	-10.7 pts
Engine size	279cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#264 of 5428	#3913 of 5428
Median miles at test	4,221	3,018
MOT tests analysed	512	10,465
Most common failure	brakes	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	Honda SH 300 A-K	Yamaha WR250F
Lights & signalling	0.8%	8.2%
Steering & suspension	0.8%	5.1%
Tyres & wheels	1.6%	3.0%
Brakes	1.6%	2.2%
Drive system	0%	0.7%
Structure & body	0%	0.5%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.4%

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	Honda SH 300 A-K	Yamaha WR250F
2022	90.3%	76.2%
2023	95.7%	82.1%
2024	91.3%	80.2%
2025	94.6%	81.6%

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	Honda SH 300 A-K	Yamaha WR250F
0k-10k miles	95.3%	78.1%
10k-20k miles	90.8%	77.3%

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

Honda SH 300 A-K vs Yamaha WR250F FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda SH 300 A-K or the Yamaha WR250F?

The Honda SH 300 A-K passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha WR250F: 93.2% vs 78.0%, a 15.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda SH 300 A-K still comes out ahead: +4.9 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda SH 300 A-K, -10.7 for the Yamaha WR250F. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda SH 300 A-K fail its MOT on most?

Tyres & wheels: 1.6% of Honda SH 300 A-K MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.6%).

What does the Yamaha WR250F fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 8.2% of Yamaha WR250F MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.1%).

HONDA SH 300 A-K 93.2% pass · 512 tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests

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