AJS CADWELL

123cc Petrol Class 1

#4354 of 5426 overall #19 of 45 AJSs #248 of 734 commuter bikes

74.5%

first-time pass rate

16.3%

failed outright

4,088

median miles at test

1,263

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2019–2025

The CADWELL's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2019 (72.1% → 71.4%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the CADWELL's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage CADWELL passes first time 76.2% of the time; by 20k that's 62.1%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a CADWELL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	222	39.7	6.5×
brakes	170	30.4	1.8×
structure and attachments	81	14.5	6.9×
suspension	44	7.9	3.7×
steering	19	3.4	3.6×
audible warning (Horn)	10	1.8	4.3×
Identification of the vehicle	7	1.3	2.4×
tyres	3	0.5	0.3×
wheels	3	0.5	4.0×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the CADWELL beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k 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 CADWELL.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (83.3% pass). Weakest: 2019 (59.8%).

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.

AJS CADWELL FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the AJS CADWELL reliable?

The AJS CADWELL is about average for its class: 74.5% of its 1,263 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4354 of 5426 models.

What does a CADWELL fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 40% of all defects recorded against failed CADWELL tests.

What is the best year of CADWELL to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (83.3%) and 2019 worst (59.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CADWELL last?

The median CADWELL shows 4,088 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 62.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.