BSA A7SS

500cc Petrol Class 2

#775 of 5426 overall #36 of 62 BSAs #471 of 2787 other bikes

90.6%

first-time pass rate

2.1%

failed outright

6,130

median miles at test

385

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2012

The A7SS's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (90.0% → 90.6%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the A7SS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage A7SS passes first time 87.4% of the time; by 30k that's 97.4%.

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 A7SS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	11	45.8
lighting and signalling	4	16.7
steering and suspension	4	16.7
body and structure	2	8.3
fuel and exhaust	2	8.3
Items Not Tested	1	4.2

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 A7SS 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 A7SS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1960 (92.7% pass). Weakest: 1959 (88.1%).

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.