AJS MODEL 20

500cc Petrol Class 2

#854 of 5426 overall #12 of 45 AJSs #518 of 2787 other bikes

90.3%

first-time pass rate

3.2%

failed outright

16,829

median miles at test

308

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2012

The MODEL 20's first-time pass rate has fallen 10.0 points since 2006, 100.0% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the MODEL 20's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage MODEL 20 passes first time 86.8% of the time; by 30k that's 87.1%.

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 MODEL 20

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	8	33.3
brakes	6	25
tyres and wheels	4	16.7
lighting and signalling	2	8.3
fuel and exhaust	1	4.2
drive system	1	4.2
driving controls	1	4.2
body and structure	1	4.2

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 MODEL 20 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 MODEL 20.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1955 (92.2% pass). Weakest: 1960 (87.3%).

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.