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Honda CB250 N Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB250 N car check

Is the Honda CB250 N reliable? We analysed 8,624 real MOT tests across 1,635 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,624 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.4%
Typical Mileage
27,781mi
Annual Mileage
284mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
48yrs

The Honda CB250 N is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB250 N.

Honda CB250 N Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB250 N. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB250 N MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB250 N to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75.9%
1984
81.9%
1983
82.1%
1982
79.6%
1981
80.3%
1980
78.4%
1979
79.4%
1978

Honda CB250 N Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB250 N fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 179
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 94
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 67
Handlebar handgrip not secure to handlebars. 64
Drive chain excessively loose 62
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 57
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 57
Drive chain worn to excess 49
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 48
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 47

Honda CB250 N Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB250 N owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
69 mi/yr
Typical
284 mi/yr
Average
871 mi/yr
Heavy usage
889 mi/yr

Honda CB250 N MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB250 N year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1984 54 75.9% 22,866 28,060 43,450
1983 354 81.9% 17,710 26,324 36,248
1982 2,156 82.1% 17,546 28,255 40,038
1981 1,976 79.6% 17,438 26,648 37,261
1980 2,061 80.3% 20,054 28,524 40,774
1979 1,528 78.4% 17,944 27,013 36,622
1978 326 79.4% 22,127 30,924 36,741

How Long Does a Honda CB250 N Last?

Based on 1,635 Honda CB250 N vehicles on UK roads.

Average
32.3 years
Median
32.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
48 years

Honda CB250 N Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB250 N MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
27,781 mi
75th Percentile
38,429 mi
95th Percentile
59,804 mi
Max Recorded
345,874 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB250 N

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1982

82.1% MOT pass rate from 2,156 tests

Year to avoid
1984

75.9% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB250 N is 1982, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.1% across 2,156 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB250 N Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB250 N THIS CAR 80.4% 8,624 27,781 mi 48 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Caterham Super 7 85.4% 10,821 15,370 mi 55 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB250 N sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CB250 N?

The Honda CB250 N has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.4% across 8,624 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Honda CB250 N are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (179 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (94), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (67). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Honda CB250 N owner drives around 284 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda CB250 N models stay on UK roads for around 48 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda CB250 N — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB250 N reliable?
Based on 8,624 MOT tests, the Honda CB250 N has a 80.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB250 N?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB250 N do per year?
The typical Honda CB250 N does around 284 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB250 N last?
Most Honda CB250 N models stay on UK roads for around 48 years based on our analysis of 1,635 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB250 N?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda CB250 N?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB250 N is 1982 with a 82.1% pass rate across 2,156 tests.