AJS 8

350cc Petrol Class 2

90.4%

first-time pass rate

0.9%

failed outright

17,988

median miles at test

115

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a 8

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Share of defects	Defects	% of defects
body and structure		1	50
fuel and exhaust		1	50

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 8 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI AN400, SUZUKI DR-Z400S, YAMAHA RD350).

SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k tests YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests KAWASAKI ZXR400 73.1% pass · 14.2k 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 8.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1960 (90.8% pass). Weakest: 1960 (90.8%).

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.