BSA B175

175cc Petrol Class 1

#330 of 5426 overall #15 of 62 BSAs #203 of 2787 other bikes

92.8%

first-time pass rate

3.2%

failed outright

13,862

median miles at test

375

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2017

The B175's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.7 points since 2012, 100.0% to 93.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the B175's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage B175 passes first time 94.2% of the time; by 20k that's 97.5%.

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 B175

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	9	36
lighting and signalling	7	28
brakes	4	16
tyres and wheels	4	16
body and structure	1	4

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 B175 beats 1 of its 1 closest rivals (BSA BANTAM).

BSA BANTAM 88.7% pass · 7,201 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 B175.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1971 (95.1% pass). Weakest: 1969 (91.4%).

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.