BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ BSA/GOLD FLASH
Model report · 2005–2025

BSA GOLD FLASH

650cc Petrol Class 2
#364 of 5426 overall #16 of 62 BSAs #224 of 2787 other bikes
92.6%
first-time pass rate
2.7%
failed outright
11,717
median miles at test
1,316
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2017

The GOLD FLASH's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.6 points since 2005, 97.1% to 92.5%.

86%93%99%2005: 97.1% pass (34 tests)2006: 91.5% pass (141 tests)2007: 92.2% pass (141 tests)2008: 93.2% pass (133 tests)2009: 88.3% pass (128 tests)2010: 92.2% pass (128 tests)2011: 96.2% pass (131 tests)2012: 94.5% pass (109 tests)2013: 93.2% pass (73 tests)2014: 88.2% pass (68 tests)2015: 92.4% pass (66 tests)2016: 92.2% pass (51 tests)2017: 92.5% pass (53 tests)20052017

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GOLD FLASH passes first time 94.3% of the time; by 50k that's 89.0%.

88%92%95%0k: 94.3% pass (598 tests)10k: 91.9% pass (172 tests)20k: 90.9% pass (143 tests)30k: 92.7% pass (110 tests)40k: 89.4% pass (85 tests)50k: 89.0% pass (82 tests)0k30k50k

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 GOLD FLASH

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
steering and suspension
28 34.1 0.4×
lighting and signalling
22 26.8 0.2×
brakes
10 12.2 0.1×
tyres and wheels
8 9.8 0.3×
fuel and exhaust
4 4.9 0.2×
drive system
4 4.9 0.4×
driving controls
2 2.4 0.6×
body and structure
2 2.4 0.2×
Items Not Tested
1 1.2 0.8×
sidecar
1 1.2 19.0×

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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GOLD FLASH 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 GOLD FLASH.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1961 (95.3% pass). Weakest: 1959 (86.1%).

84%91%97%1953: 94.9% pass (59 tests)1954: 92.7% pass (82 tests)1955: 92.2% pass (51 tests)1956: 92.4% pass (66 tests)1958: 91.6% pass (95 tests)1959: 86.1% pass (108 tests)1960: 92.7% pass (288 tests)1961: 95.3% pass (257 tests)1962: 90.8% pass (76 tests)1971: 95.2% pass (63 tests)195319591971

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 GOLD FLASH FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BSA GOLD FLASH reliable?

The BSA GOLD FLASH is more reliable than average for its class: 92.6% of its 1,316 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #364 of 5426 models.

What does a GOLD FLASH fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 34% of all defects recorded against failed GOLD FLASH tests.

What is the best year of GOLD FLASH to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1961-registered examples do best (95.3%) and 1959 worst (86.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GOLD FLASH last?

The median GOLD FLASH shows 11,717 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 89.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.