BSA SUPER ROCKET

650cc Petrol Class 2

#222 of 5426 overall #6 of 62 BSAs #40 of 465 cruiser bikes

93.6%

first-time pass rate

1.9%

failed outright

6,389

median miles at test

1,548

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The SUPER ROCKET's first-time pass rate has risen 2.2 points since 2006, 92.0% to 94.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage SUPER ROCKET passes first time 93.4% of the time; by 50k that's 95.6%.

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 SUPER ROCKET

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	46	59.7	0.3×
steering and suspension	14	18.2	0.2×
brakes	7	9.1	0.1×
fuel and exhaust	4	5.2	0.3×
body and structure	2	2.6	0.3×
drive system	2	2.6	0.2×
tyres and wheels	2	2.6	0.1×

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 SUPER ROCKET beats 1 of its 1 closest rivals (HONDA SHADOW).

HONDA SHADOW 81.0% pass · 6,066 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 SUPER ROCKET.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1962 (96.4% pass). Weakest: 1959 (90.1%).

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.

BSA SUPER ROCKET FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BSA SUPER ROCKET reliable?

The BSA SUPER ROCKET is more reliable than average for its class: 93.6% of its 1,548 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #222 of 5426 models.

What does a SUPER ROCKET fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 60% of all defects recorded against failed SUPER ROCKET tests.

What is the best year of SUPER ROCKET to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1962-registered examples do best (96.4%) and 1959 worst (90.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SUPER ROCKET last?

The median SUPER ROCKET shows 6,389 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 95.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.