BSA C11

250cc Petrol Class 2

#1937 of 5426 overall #59 of 62 BSAs #1173 of 2787 other bikes

86.9%

first-time pass rate

7.2%

failed outright

9,900

median miles at test

457

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The C11's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.1 points since 2006, 93.2% to 91.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the C11's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage C11 passes first time 84.8% of the time; by 30k that's 87.5%.

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 C11

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	25	31.6
lighting and signalling	22	27.8
brakes	16	20.3
tyres and wheels	7	8.9
drive system	3	3.8
fuel and exhaust	2	2.5
driving controls	2	2.5
body and structure	2	2.5

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 C11 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 C11.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1953 (89.0% pass). Weakest: 1953 (89.0%).

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.