Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 KTM 250?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 KTM 250?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 KTM 250?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2013 KTM 250 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 167 vehicles, the 2013 KTM 250 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 KTM 250?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 KTM 250 are: Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (27% of vehicles), Rear reflector missing (21.6% of vehicles), Front Wheel bearing has slight play (18.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 KTM 250?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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KTM 250 (2013)

167 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.8% first-time pass rate

2013 KTM 250

CarHunch analysed 167 real MOT records for the 2013 KTM 250. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2013 KTM 250 passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.8% of the time, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which suggests decent overall reliability. However, 13.2% of these bikes have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful proportion and worth investigating on any individual machine you're considering.

With a median mileage of just 2,334 miles for an 11-year-old bike, these are lightly used machines—many appear to be garage queens or hobby bikes rather than daily commuters. The average of 0.94 failures and 3.3 advisories per test tells you minor wear items (chains, pads, lights) crop up regularly, but major structural problems are uncommon. Always ask the seller for full MOT history and get any dangerous defect flags checked by a specialist before purchase.

We have limited data for the 2013 KTM 250 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

82.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

13.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.94

Over 4.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 1k–3k

For context

These stats describe 167 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 167 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 27%

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play · Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 21.6%

Rear reflector missing · Front Wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim · Drive chain slightly loose · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 14.5%

Horn not working · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Chain guard missing · …

Brake wear 7.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 167 KTM 250 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 KTM 250

Based on MOT data from 167 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 KTM 250 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

2,334

typical

1,483

low mileage

3,037

high mileage

Half of all 2013 KTM 250 vehicles fall between 1,483 and 3,037 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 1,483 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 1,483–3,037 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 KTM 250s sit.

⚠ Over 4,099 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 KTM 250 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 2013 KTM 250s are still active.

44 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 50% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

4.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.94

Avg failures per vehicle

3.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — KTM 250: All 250 years → Which year to buy? →

2014 2015 2016

Or browse all models: KTM →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 KTM 250 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?