Rankings · Great Britain 2005–2025
Motorcycle reliability, ranked
The questions every used-bike buyer asks, answered with real MOT data, not opinion. Each ranking is computed from every motorcycle test in Great Britain.
Insights
Are electric motorbikes more reliable than petrol?
EV vs petrol MOT pass rates over time, and the year electric pulled ahead.
How does mileage affect MOT pass rate?
The strongest predictor: how the odds fall as the clock climbs.
At what age do bikes start failing?
The age curve, and why the oldest bikes buck the trend.
What fails a motorbike MOT most?
Every failure category ranked: lighting, brakes, tyres and more.
Overall reliability
Which motorcycles are most likely to pass their MOT first time?
Every model ranked by first-time MOT pass rate (min. 200 tests).
Which motorcycles fail their MOT most often?
Models with the lowest first-time MOT pass rate (min. 200 tests).
Which used motorcycles are the most reliable to buy?
Popular used models (1,000+ MOT tests) ranked by first-time MOT pass rate, so the list reflects bikes you can realistically find secondhand rather than rare models with few tests.
Adjusted reliability
Which motorcycles beat expectations once you account for age and mileage?
Models ranked by how far their pass rate beats the rate expected for bikes of the same age, mileage and class (min. 500 scored tests).
Which motorcycles fail more than you'd expect for their age and mileage?
Models whose pass rate falls furthest below the rate expected for their age, mileage and class (min. 500 scored tests).
By engine size
Which 125cc motorcycles are most reliable?
Learner-legal 125s ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Which mid-capacity bikes are most reliable?
250–500cc models ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Which big bikes are most reliable?
1000cc-and-over models ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Common failures
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on lighting most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests failing on lighting, signalling, lamps or reflectors.
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on brakes most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests with a brake defect.
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on steering or suspension most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests with a steering or suspension defect.
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on tyres or wheels most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests with a tyre or wheel defect.
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on chain, sprockets or the drive system most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests with a drive-system defect.
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on fuel or exhaust most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests with a fuel or exhaust defect.
Which motorcycles fail their MOT on structure, body or corrosion most often?
Models ranked by the share of tests with a structure, body or attachment defect.
By bike type
Which scooters are most reliable?
Scooters ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Which adventure bikes are most reliable?
Adventure / dual-sport models ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Which sports bikes are most reliable?
Supersport / sportsbikes ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Which naked / roadster bikes are most reliable?
Naked and roadster models ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Which cruisers are most reliable?
Cruiser models ranked by first-time MOT pass rate.
Popularity & durability
Which motorcycles are the most common on UK roads by MOT volume?
Models ranked by number of MOT tests, a proxy for how many are on the road.
Which motorcycles still pass their MOT at the highest mileage?
Models ranked by median odometer reading at test, a durability signal.