BSA LIGHTNING

650cc Petrol Class 2

#433 of 5426 overall #20 of 62 BSAs #267 of 2787 other bikes

92.2%

first-time pass rate

3.0%

failed outright

10,620

median miles at test

794

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The LIGHTNING's first-time pass rate has risen 2.9 points since 2006, 92.1% to 95.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage LIGHTNING passes first time 91.6% of the time; by 30k that's 98.2%.

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 LIGHTNING

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	20	40	0.4×
steering and suspension	14	28	0.4×
brakes	6	12	0.2×
drive system	4	8	0.3×
driving controls	2	4	1.1×
tyres and wheels	1	2	0.1×
reg plates and vin	1	2	0.2×
sidecar	1	2	31.5×
Items Not Tested	1	2	1.4×

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 LIGHTNING 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 LIGHTNING.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1972 (95.7% pass). Weakest: 1967 (88.5%).

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 LIGHTNING FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BSA LIGHTNING reliable?

The BSA LIGHTNING is more reliable than average for its class: 92.2% of its 794 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #433 of 5426 models.

What does a LIGHTNING fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 40% of all defects recorded against failed LIGHTNING tests.

What is the best year of LIGHTNING to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1972-registered examples do best (95.7%) and 1969 worst (88.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a LIGHTNING last?

The median LIGHTNING shows 10,620 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 98.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.