BSA A65L

650cc Petrol Class 2

#680 of 5426 overall #31 of 62 BSAs #414 of 2787 other bikes

91.0%

first-time pass rate

2.1%

failed outright

10,394

median miles at test

619

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The A65L's first-time pass rate has risen 7.8 points since 2006, 88.0% to 95.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the A65L's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage A65L passes first time 90.4% of the time; by 40k that's 90.3%.

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 A65L

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	10	43.5	0.3×
steering and suspension	6	26.1	0.2×
brakes	5	21.7	0.1×
tyres and wheels	2	8.7	0.2×

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 A65L 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 A65L.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1968 (92.1% pass). Weakest: 1972 (82.1%).

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.

BSA A65L FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BSA A65L reliable?

The BSA A65L is more reliable than average for its class: 91.0% of its 619 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #680 of 5426 models.

What does a A65L fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 43% of all defects recorded against failed A65L tests.

What is the best year of A65L to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1968-registered examples do best (92.1%) and 1972 worst (82.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a A65L last?

The median A65L shows 10,394 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 90.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.