BSA GOLD STAR

500cc Petrol Class 2

#232 of 5426 overall #7 of 62 BSAs #144 of 2787 other bikes

93.5%

first-time pass rate

1.7%

failed outright

5,024

median miles at test

3,109

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GOLD STAR's first-time pass rate has risen 3.0 points since 2005, 92.6% to 95.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GOLD STAR passes first time 93.4% of the time; by 50k that's 90.2%.

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 STAR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	32	35.2	0.2×
steering and suspension	20	22	0.2×
brakes	16	17.6	0.1×
tyres and wheels	14	15.4	0.2×
lamps and reflectors	2	2.2	—
body and structure	2	2.2	0.1×
drive system	2	2.2	0.1×
Items Not Tested	1	1.1	0.3×
suspension	1	1.1	—
tyres	1	1.1	—

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 STAR 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 SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 STAR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1956 (95.7% pass). Weakest: 1959 (90.8%).

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 STAR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BSA GOLD STAR reliable?

The BSA GOLD STAR is more reliable than average for its class: 93.5% of its 3,109 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #232 of 5426 models.

What does a GOLD STAR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 35% of all defects recorded against failed GOLD STAR tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 1956-registered examples do best (95.7%) and 1959 worst (90.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GOLD STAR last?

The median GOLD STAR shows 5,024 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 90.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.