AJS 500

500cc Petrol Class 2

#1604 of 5426 overall #14 of 45 AJSs #976 of 2787 other bikes

88.0%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

13,920

median miles at test

251

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The 500's first-time pass rate has risen 1.2 points since 2006, 89.7% to 90.9%.

What fails on a 500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	8	29.6
lamps and reflectors	4	14.8
steering and suspension	3	11.1
tyres and wheels	3	11.1
brakes	3	11.1
body and structure	2	7.4
fuel and exhaust	1	3.7
audible warning (Horn)	1	3.7
driving controls	1	3.7
Items Not Tested	1	3.7

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 500 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 500.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1961 (96.0% pass). Weakest: 1961 (96.0%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.