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Honda CBR250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CBR250 car check

Is the Honda CBR250 reliable? We analysed 888 real MOT tests across 141 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 888 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.7%
Typical Mileage
17,190mi
Annual Mileage
752mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Honda CBR250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CBR250.

Honda CBR250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CBR250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CBR250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CBR250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.8%
2012
88.6%
2011
80%
1998
87.2%
1997

Honda CBR250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CBR250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 11
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 10
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 9
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 7
Footrest missing 6
Headlamp aim too low 6
reflector on motorcycle missing 5
wheel bearings have excessive free play 4
Drive chain worn to excess 4

Honda CBR250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CBR250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
210 mi/yr
Typical
752 mi/yr
Average
1,772 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,166 mi/yr

Honda CBR250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CBR250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 98 91.8% 6,206 9,490 14,682
2011 351 88.6% 6,643 10,660 20,238
1998 60 80.0% 14,452 26,263 30,579
1997 78 87.2% 22,692 40,332 45,670

How Long Does a Honda CBR250 Last?

Based on 141 Honda CBR250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.9 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Honda CBR250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CBR250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
17,190 mi
75th Percentile
26,606 mi
95th Percentile
53,446 mi
Max Recorded
227,804 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CBR250

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

Best year
2012

91.8% MOT pass rate from 98 tests

Year to avoid
1998

80.0% MOT pass rate from 60 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CBR250 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.8% across 98 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CBR250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CBR250 THIS CAR 87.7% 888 17,190 mi 29 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
Sukida Sk 50 QT-9 Roma 74.6% 422 3,639 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CBR250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CBR250 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Honda CBR250?

The Honda CBR250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% across 888 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 CBR250 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (11 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (10), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (9). 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 CBR250 owner drives around 752 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 CBR250 models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 CBR250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CBR250 reliable?
Based on 888 MOT tests, the Honda CBR250 has a 87.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CBR250?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CBR250 do per year?
The typical Honda CBR250 does around 752 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CBR250 last?
Most Honda CBR250 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 141 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CBR250?
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 CBR250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CBR250 is 2012 with a 91.8% pass rate across 98 tests.