Kawasaki EX250 vs Honda CBF250

The Honda CBF250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki EX250: 84.9% vs 77.5%, a 7.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Kawasaki EX250	Honda CBF250
First-time pass rate	77.5%	84.9%
Outright fail rate	14.5%	8.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-9.3 pts	-1.4 pts
Engine size	249cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#3977 of 5428	#2516 of 5428
Median miles at test	9,728	10,566
MOT tests analysed	3,922	7,536
Most common failure	brakes	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	Kawasaki EX250	Honda CBF250
Lights & signalling	6.2%	2.8%
Steering & suspension	6.0%	2.8%
Brakes	6.1%	2.5%
Tyres & wheels	3.3%	2.0%
Drive system	1.3%	1.6%
Structure & body	1.6%	0.5%
Fuel & exhaust	0.2%	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	Kawasaki EX250	Honda CBF250
2018	75.7%	84.0%
2019	77.7%	81.6%
2020	79.0%	88.6%
2021	74.8%	89.2%
2022	71.2%	90.5%
2023	76.0%	88.1%
2024	78.5%	85.6%
2025	79.9%	85.7%

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	Kawasaki EX250	Honda CBF250
0k-10k miles	85.0%	88.5%
10k-20k miles	71.5%	82.6%
20k-30k miles	65.4%	81.6%
30k-40k miles	71.1%	77.0%
40k-50k miles	73.3%	78.7%

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

Kawasaki EX250 vs Honda CBF250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki EX250 or the Honda CBF250?

The Honda CBF250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki EX250: 84.9% vs 77.5%, a 7.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CBF250 still comes out ahead: -9.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Kawasaki EX250, -1.4 for the Honda CBF250. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Kawasaki EX250 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.2% of Kawasaki EX250 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (6.1%).

What does the Honda CBF250 fail its MOT on most?

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

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Kawasaki EX250 or the Honda CBF250?

At 40k-50k miles the Honda CBF250 passes first time more often: 73.3% for the Kawasaki EX250 vs 78.7% for the Honda CBF250.

KAWASAKI EX250 77.5% pass · 3,922 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.