SUNBEAM S7

500cc Petrol Class 2

#746 of 5426 overall #3 of 3 SUNBEAMs #456 of 2787 other bikes

90.7%

first-time pass rate

2.8%

failed outright

12,266

median miles at test

935

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2012

The S7's first-time pass rate has risen 2.2 points since 2005, 89.5% to 91.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the S7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage S7 passes first time 91.0% of the time; by 50k that's 87.1%.

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 S7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	24	47.1	0.4×
brakes	11	21.6	0.2×
steering and suspension	9	17.6	0.2×
tyres and wheels	5	9.8	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	2	3.9	0.3×

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 S7 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 S7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1953 (94.7% pass). Weakest: 1957 (84.3%).

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.

SUNBEAM S7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUNBEAM S7 reliable?

The SUNBEAM S7 is more reliable than average for its class: 90.7% of its 935 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #746 of 5426 models.

What does a S7 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 47% of all defects recorded against failed S7 tests.

What is the best year of S7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1953-registered examples do best (94.7%) and 1957 worst (84.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a S7 last?

The median S7 shows 12,266 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 87.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.