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.
Pass rate over time
The D7's first-time pass rate has risen 4.9 points since 2006, 82.4% to 87.3%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage D7 passes first time 82.7% of the time; by 30k that's 87.0%.
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 D7
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
61 | 43.9 | 1.0× |
| steering and suspension |
|
28 | 20.1 | 0.9× |
| brakes |
|
16 | 11.5 | 0.3× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
14 | 10.1 | 0.7× |
| drive system |
|
6 | 4.3 | 0.8× |
| body and structure |
|
6 | 4.3 | 1.0× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
4 | 2.9 | 0.5× |
| driving controls |
|
2 | 1.4 | 1.0× |
| Items Not Tested |
|
2 | 1.4 | 2.6× |
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
On first-time pass rate the D7 beats 0 of its 1 closest rivals (BSA BANTAM).
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 D7.
Compare with any bike
More BSA models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1964 (94.9% pass). Weakest: 1960 (83.3%).
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 D7 FAQ
Is the BSA D7 reliable?
The BSA D7 is more reliable than average for its class: 85.8% of its 829 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #2266 of 5428 models.
What does a D7 fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 44% of all defects recorded against failed D7 tests.
What is the best year of D7 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 1964-registered examples do best (94.9%) and 1960 worst (83.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a D7 last?
The median D7 shows 15,055 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 87.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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