BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BSA/D14
Model report · 2005–2025

BSA D14

175cc Petrol Class 1
#1077 of 5428 overall #49 of 62 BSAs #662 of 2788 other bikes
89.6%
first-time pass rate
3.3%
failed outright
13,085
median miles at test
450
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+7.5pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

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

The D14's first-time pass rate has risen 13.3 points since 2006, 83.7% to 97.0%.

80%90%100%2006: 83.7% pass (43 tests)2008: 91.4% pass (35 tests)2009: 90.6% pass (32 tests)2011: 84.4% pass (32 tests)2012: 90.2% pass (41 tests)2013: 91.7% pass (36 tests)2014: 94.6% pass (37 tests)2015: 89.7% pass (39 tests)2016: 89.5% pass (38 tests)2017: 97.0% pass (33 tests)20062017

Pass rate by mileage

how the D14's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage D14 passes first time 87.3% of the time; by 20k that's 92.3%.

86%90%93%0k: 87.3% pass (150 tests)10k: 89.8% pass (166 tests)20k: 92.3% pass (65 tests)0k10k20k

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 D14

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
steering and suspension
16 41
tyres and wheels
8 20.5
lighting and signalling
4 10.3
drive system
3 7.7
brakes
3 7.7
fuel and exhaust
1 2.6
body and structure
1 2.6
driving controls
1 2.6
Items Not Tested
1 2.6
lamps and reflectors
1 2.6

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 D14 beats 1 of its 1 closest rivals (BSA BANTAM).

BSA BANTAM 88.7% pass · 7,202 tests Compare head-to-head →

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 D14.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the D14

More BSA models

other BSA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
BSA A10 91.6% pass · 10.2k tests
BSA BANTAM 88.7% pass · 7,202 tests
BSA C15 89.2% pass · 5,895 tests
BSA A65 90.9% pass · 5,064 tests
BSA B31 92.0% pass · 3,429 tests
BSA B40 90.6% pass · 3,360 tests

See all BSA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1968 (89.9% pass). Weakest: 1969 (84.4%).

83%87%91%1968: 89.9% pass (247 tests)1969: 84.4% pass (90 tests)19681969

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.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Bsa D14 reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.