BSA 500

500cc Petrol Class 2

#67 of 5426 overall #1 of 62 BSAs #43 of 2787 other bikes

95.1%

first-time pass rate

3.4%

failed outright

11,336

median miles at test

326

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2010

The 500's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (97.4% → 96.7%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the 500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 500 passes first time 95.8% of the time; by 30k that's 92.0%.

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 500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	10	35.7
steering and suspension	7	25
brakes	3	10.7
tyres and wheels	2	7.1
body and structure	2	7.1
reg plates and vin	2	7.1
fuel and exhaust	1	3.6
Items Not Tested	1	3.6

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: 1971 (90.2% pass). Weakest: 1971 (90.2%).

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.