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
The MSS's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.2 points since 2005, 90.3% to 87.1%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage MSS passes first time 95.0% of the time; by 50k that's 98.5%.
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 MSS
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
9 | 42.9 | 0.1× |
| brakes |
|
4 | 19 | 0.1× |
| steering and suspension |
|
3 | 14.3 | 0.1× |
| drive system |
|
2 | 9.5 | 0.1× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
2 | 9.5 | 0.1× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
1 | 4.8 | 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
On first-time pass rate the MSS beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).
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 MSS.
Compare with any bike
More VELOCETTE models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1955 (98.1% pass). Weakest: 1960 (93.5%).
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.
VELOCETTE MSS FAQ
Is the VELOCETTE MSS reliable?
The VELOCETTE MSS is more reliable than average for its class: 95.2% of its 1,232 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #62 of 5428 models.
What does a MSS fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 43% of all defects recorded against failed MSS tests.
What is the best year of MSS to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 1955-registered examples do best (98.1%) and 1960 worst (93.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a MSS last?
The median MSS shows 14,066 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 98.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
Embed this bike
Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Velocette MSS reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.