BSA SPITFIRE

650cc Petrol Class 2

#988 of 5426 overall #46 of 62 BSAs #605 of 2787 other bikes

89.9%

first-time pass rate

3.7%

failed outright

3,956

median miles at test

326

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2016

The SPITFIRE's first-time pass rate has risen 9.6 points since 2011, 83.9% to 93.5%.

What fails on a SPITFIRE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	14	46.7
drive system	4	13.3
fuel and exhaust	4	13.3
suspension	2	6.7
steering and suspension	1	3.3
Items Not Tested	1	3.3
tyres and wheels	1	3.3
body and structure	1	3.3
brakes	1	3.3
reg plates and vin	1	3.3

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 SPITFIRE 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 SPITFIRE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1968 (98.0% pass). Weakest: 1967 (86.1%).

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.