Kawasaki EX250 vs Honda XR250

The Honda XR250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki EX250: 78.8% vs 77.5%, a 1.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Kawasaki EX250	Honda XR250
First-time pass rate	77.5%	78.8%
Outright fail rate	14.5%	12.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-9.3 pts	-6.8 pts
Engine size	249cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#3977 of 5428	#3805 of 5428
Median miles at test	9,728	8,618
MOT tests analysed	3,922	9,277
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	Kawasaki EX250	Honda XR250
Lights & signalling	6.2%	7.1%
Steering & suspension	6.0%	4.8%
Brakes	6.1%	3.8%
Tyres & wheels	3.3%	3.0%
Structure & body	1.6%	0.8%
Drive system	1.3%	0.8%
Fuel & exhaust	0.2%	0.5%

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 XR250
2018	75.7%	83.3%
2019	77.7%	78.0%
2020	79.0%	83.3%
2021	74.8%	81.7%
2022	71.2%	83.7%
2023	76.0%	84.3%
2024	78.5%	84.1%
2025	79.9%	82.6%

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	Kawasaki EX250	Honda XR250
0k-10k miles	85.0%	79.5%
10k-20k miles	71.5%	78.9%
20k-30k miles	65.4%	78.3%
30k-40k miles	71.1%	77.7%
40k-50k miles	73.3%	74.1%

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

Kawasaki EX250 vs Honda XR250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki EX250 or the Honda XR250?

The Honda XR250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki EX250: 78.8% vs 77.5%, a 1.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda XR250 still comes out ahead: -9.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Kawasaki EX250, -6.8 for the Honda XR250. 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 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 Kawasaki EX250 or the Honda XR250?

They are level: at 40k-50k miles the Kawasaki EX250 passes 73.3% first time and the Honda XR250 74.1%.

KAWASAKI EX250 77.5% pass · 3,922 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.