Montesa Cota 4RT vs Honda XR250

The Montesa Cota 4RT passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda XR250: 90.2% vs 78.8%, a 11.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Montesa Cota 4RT	Honda XR250
First-time pass rate	90.2%	78.8%
Outright fail rate	5.6%	12.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+1.3 pts	-6.8 pts
Engine size	249cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#884 of 5428	#3805 of 5428
Median miles at test	969	8,618
MOT tests analysed	732	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	Montesa Cota 4RT	Honda XR250
Lights & signalling	2.0%	7.1%
Steering & suspension	2.3%	4.8%
Tyres & wheels	1.9%	3.0%
Brakes	0.8%	3.8%
Drive system	0%	0.8%
Structure & body	0%	0.8%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	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	Montesa Cota 4RT	Honda XR250
2014	92.1%	77.8%
2015	92.3%	80.5%
2016	85.0%	78.9%
2017	87.5%	78.2%
2020	93.8%	83.3%
2021	93.5%	81.7%
2022	94.9%	83.7%
2023	91.9%	84.3%

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

Montesa Cota 4RT vs Honda XR250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Montesa Cota 4RT or the Honda XR250?

The Montesa Cota 4RT passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda XR250: 90.2% vs 78.8%, a 11.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Montesa Cota 4RT still comes out ahead: +1.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Montesa Cota 4RT, -6.8 for the Honda XR250. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Montesa Cota 4RT fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 2.3% of Montesa Cota 4RT MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.0%).

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%).

MONTESA COTA 4RT 90.2% pass · 732 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.