BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ RUDGE/SPECIAL
Model report · 2005–2025

RUDGE SPECIAL

499cc Petrol Class 2
#415 of 5428 overall #2 of 2 RUDGEs #257 of 2788 other bikes
92.3%
first-time pass rate
0.3%
failed outright
5,703
median miles at test
300
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 · 2006–2012

The SPECIAL's first-time pass rate has fallen 15.6 points since 2006, 100.0% to 84.4%.

81%90%100%2006: 100.0% pass (41 tests)2007: 94.6% pass (37 tests)2008: 90.2% pass (41 tests)2009: 92.1% pass (38 tests)2010: 89.8% pass (49 tests)2011: 92.5% pass (40 tests)2012: 84.4% pass (32 tests)20062012

What fails on a SPECIAL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
1 100

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 SPECIAL 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 SPECIAL.

Compare with any bike

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

More RUDGE models

other RUDGE bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
RUDGE ULSTER 96.4% pass · 391 tests

See all RUDGE models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1937 (91.2% pass). Weakest: 1937 (91.2%).

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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