Honda NSS 250-297cc MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda NSS 250-297cc motorcycles pass the MOT 90.34% of the time, measured across 1,397 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.51% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Calculated from DVSA records for Honda NSS, 250-297cc.

Better than average: 3.5 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 90.34% 1,262 of 1,397
Fixed at the station 2.51% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 17,407 miles
Average age at test 7.61 years old
Engine 279cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Honda NSS 250-297cc adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm - it accounts for 39% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and not working, the next two most common reasons.
  • Age matters here: 94.41% of 3-5 year old examples pass, against 87.5% at 11-15 years - a gap of 6.9 points.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (6.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 17,407 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test Pass rate   Tests
3-5 years 94.41% 483
6-10 years 88.26% 775
11-15 years 87.5% 136

Why the Honda NSS 250-297cc fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

# Item Of failures   Tests
1 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 39% 39
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 36% 36
3 Not working 21% 21
4 Excessively stiff or notchy 14% 14
5 Has a serious fluid leak 11% 11
6 Has a major leak of exhaust gases 9% 9
7 Significantly and obviously worn 7% 7
8 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 6% 6
9 Excessively binding 4% 4
10 Insecure 4% 4

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

# Item Of all tests   Tests
1 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6.9% 96
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 5.1% 71
3 Excessively stiff or notchy 3.9% 54
4 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.9% 41
5 Has a serious fluid leak 1.9% 27
6 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 1.6% 23
7 Tread not clearly visible 1.6% 22
8 Significantly and obviously worn 1.2% 17
9 Excessively binding 0.9% 13
10 Has a major leak of exhaust gases 0.9% 13

Honda NSS 250-297cc for sale

No Honda NSS 250-297cc in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model Tests Pass rate   Avg mileage
Piaggio VESPA GTS · 240-300cc 4,305 92.15% 9,875
Honda CRF 220-250cc · 220-250cc 2,452 89.76% 7,549
Royal Enfield METEOR 350 · 349cc 2,133 93.95% 4,543
Honda CRF 300 LA-M · 286cc 1,297 88.43% 3,963
BMW G310 · 313cc 1,129 90.79% 7,243
Royal Enfield CLASSIC 350 · 349cc 920 93.8% 3,759

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Honda NSS 250-297cc MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda NSS 250-297cc?+
90.34% of Honda NSS 250-297cc MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,397 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda NSS 250-297cc?+
Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, which appears in 39% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Honda NSS 250-297cc get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 87.5%, against 94.41% for examples 3-5 years old.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
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