Zontes S vs Honda XR250

The Zontes S passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda XR250: 90.0% vs 78.8%, a 11.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Zontes S	Honda XR250
First-time pass rate	90.0%	78.8%
Outright fail rate	7.3%	12.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+0.4 pts	-6.8 pts
Engine size	249cc	249cc
Median miles at test	3,519	8,618
MOT tests analysed	110	9,277
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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.

ZONTES S 90.0% pass · 110 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.