BSA A65 THUNDERBOLT

650cc Petrol Class 2

#823 of 5426 overall #41 of 62 BSAs #502 of 2787 other bikes

90.4%

first-time pass rate

3.9%

failed outright

10,200

median miles at test

229

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the A65 THUNDERBOLT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage A65 THUNDERBOLT passes first time 90.8% of the time; by 20k that's 83.8%.

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 A65 THUNDERBOLT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	11	47.8
brakes	6	26.1
body and structure	2	8.7
tyres and wheels	1	4.3
fuel and exhaust	1	4.3
driving controls	1	4.3
steering and suspension	1	4.3

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 A65 THUNDERBOLT 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 A65 THUNDERBOLT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1970 (93.7% pass). Weakest: 1970 (93.7%).

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.