Yamaha YP250 vs Honda CBF250

The Honda CBF250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YP250: 84.9% vs 82.5%, a 2.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Yamaha YP250	Honda CBF250
First-time pass rate	82.5%	84.9%
Outright fail rate	12.3%	8.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-2.3 pts	-1.4 pts
Engine size	249cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#3073 of 5428	#2516 of 5428
Median miles at test	15,613	10,566
MOT tests analysed	12,433	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	Yamaha YP250	Honda CBF250
Brakes	5.3%	2.5%
Steering & suspension	5.0%	2.8%
Tyres & wheels	3.8%	2.0%
Lights & signalling	2.5%	2.8%
Drive system	0.0%	1.6%
Structure & body	0.5%	0.5%
Fuel & exhaust	0.8%	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	Yamaha YP250	Honda CBF250
2018	82.9%	84.0%
2019	84.2%	81.6%
2020	82.5%	88.6%
2021	84.5%	89.2%
2022	81.9%	90.5%
2023	84.4%	88.1%
2024	84.4%	85.6%
2025	85.9%	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	Yamaha YP250	Honda CBF250
0k-10k miles	88.6%	88.5%
10k-20k miles	82.5%	82.6%
20k-30k miles	78.6%	81.6%
30k-40k miles	77.0%	77.0%
40k-50k miles	71.9%	78.7%
50k-60k miles	84.7%	80.3%

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

Yamaha YP250 vs Honda CBF250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Yamaha YP250 or the Honda CBF250?

The Honda CBF250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YP250: 84.9% vs 82.5%, a 2.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-2.3 vs -1.4 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Yamaha YP250 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 5.3% of Yamaha YP250 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.0%).

What does the Honda CBF250 fail its MOT on most?

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

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Yamaha YP250 or the Honda CBF250?

At 50k-60k miles the Yamaha YP250 passes first time more often: 84.7% for the Yamaha YP250 vs 80.3% for the Honda CBF250.

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k 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.