BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ MATCHLESS/G80S
Model report · 2005–2025

MATCHLESS G80S

500cc Petrol Class 2
#384 of 5428 overall #5 of 14 MATCHLESSs #240 of 2788 other bikes
92.5%
first-time pass rate
3.0%
failed outright
15,602
median miles at test
268
MOT tests, 2005–2025

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2011

The G80S's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.6 points since 2006, 97.5% to 87.9%.

83%91%100%2006: 97.5% pass (40 tests)2008: 92.3% pass (39 tests)2009: 85.7% pass (35 tests)2010: 97.1% pass (34 tests)2011: 87.9% pass (33 tests)20062011

Pass rate by mileage

how the G80S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage G80S passes first time 93.2% of the time; by 20k that's 97.5%.

86%93%100%0k: 93.2% pass (117 tests)10k: 87.5% pass (40 tests)20k: 97.5% pass (40 tests)0k10k20k

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 G80S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
10 66.7
brakes
3 20
steering and suspension
2 13.3

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 G80S beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 G80S.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the G80S

More MATCHLESS models

other MATCHLESS bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
MATCHLESS G80 92.0% pass · 2,093 tests
MATCHLESS G12 92.3% pass · 1,593 tests
MATCHLESS G3 92.7% pass · 1,459 tests
MATCHLESS G3LS 92.2% pass · 1,091 tests
MATCHLESS G3L 93.1% pass · 955 tests
MATCHLESS G9 90.0% pass · 812 tests

See all MATCHLESS models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1952 (92.9% pass). Weakest: 1957 (89.8%).

89%91%94%1952: 92.9% pass (70 tests)1957: 89.8% pass (59 tests)19521957

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.

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