BSA A7

500cc Petrol Class 2

#414 of 5426 overall #18 of 62 BSAs #256 of 2787 other bikes

92.3%

first-time pass rate

2.6%

failed outright

10,424

median miles at test

3,264

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2018

The A7's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.8 points since 2005, 94.1% to 92.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the A7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage A7 passes first time 90.8% of the time; by 50k that's 96.0%.

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 A7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	74	35.6	0.3×
brakes	48	23.1	0.2×
steering and suspension	43	20.7	0.3×
tyres and wheels	20	9.6	0.3×
body and structure	9	4.3	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	8	3.8	0.3×
driving controls	3	1.4	0.4×
drive system	2	1	0.1×
reg plates and vin	1	0.5	0.1×

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 A7 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 A7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1950 (96.5% pass). Weakest: 1971 (88.8%).

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 A7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BSA A7 reliable?

The BSA A7 is more reliable than average for its class: 92.3% of its 3,264 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #414 of 5426 models.

What does a A7 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed A7 tests.

What is the best year of A7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1950-registered examples do best (96.5%) and 1971 worst (88.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a A7 last?

The median A7 shows 10,424 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 96.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.