BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ AJS/TEMPEST ROADSTER
Model report · 2005–2025

AJS TEMPEST ROADSTER

124cc Petrol Class 1
#4566 of 5426 overall #22 of 45 AJSs #309 of 734 commuter bikes
72.2%
first-time pass rate
18.3%
failed outright
3,790
median miles at test
558
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The TEMPEST ROADSTER's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.2 points since 2021, 86.0% to 74.8%.

61%76%91%2021: 86.0% pass (57 tests)2022: 72.4% pass (105 tests)2023: 65.6% pass (122 tests)2024: 68.4% pass (114 tests)2025: 74.8% pass (155 tests)20212025

What fails on a TEMPEST ROADSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
100 38.5 2.5×
lamps and reflectors
84 32.3 5.9×
suspension
30 11.5 6.1×
structure and attachments
27 10.4 6.0×
steering
12 4.6 3.4×
audible warning (Horn)
4 1.5 3.9×
Identification of the vehicle
2 0.8 1.6×
tyres
1 0.4 0.3×

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 TEMPEST ROADSTER beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

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 TEMPEST ROADSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (74.1% pass). Weakest: 2019 (68.6%).

68%71%75%2018: 74.1% pass (197 tests)2019: 68.6% pass (172 tests)2020: 72.6% pass (84 tests)201820192020

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 TEMPEST ROADSTER FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the AJS TEMPEST ROADSTER reliable?

The AJS TEMPEST ROADSTER is about average for its class: 72.2% of its 558 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4566 of 5426 models.

What does a TEMPEST ROADSTER fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 38% of all defects recorded against failed TEMPEST ROADSTER tests.

What is the best year of TEMPEST ROADSTER to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2018-registered examples do best (74.1%) and 2019 worst (68.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.