BSA SR500

499cc Petrol Class 2

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

93.5%

first-time pass rate

2.8%

failed outright

3,999

median miles at test

325

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The SR500's first-time pass rate has risen 1.4 points since 2006, 91.9% to 93.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SR500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SR500 passes first time 94.4% of the time; by 20k that's 100.0%.

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 SR500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	6	35.3
lighting and signalling	4	23.5
reg plates and vin	3	17.6
fuel and exhaust	1	5.9
drive system	1	5.9
driving controls	1	5.9
tyres and wheels	1	5.9

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 SR500 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 SR500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (94.8% pass). Weakest: 1999 (94.8%).

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.