BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ VELOCETTE/VALIANT
Model report · 2005–2025

VELOCETTE VALIANT

192cc Petrol Class 1
#1147 of 5428 overall #13 of 13 VELOCETTEs #698 of 2788 other bikes
89.4%
first-time pass rate
3.1%
failed outright
17,747
median miles at test
293
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 VALIANT's first-time pass rate has risen 2.1 points since 2006, 90.0% to 92.1%.

80%89%98%2006: 90.0% pass (30 tests)2007: 83.3% pass (30 tests)2008: 85.7% pass (35 tests)2009: 95.0% pass (40 tests)2010: 95.2% pass (42 tests)2011: 92.1% pass (38 tests)20062011

Pass rate by mileage

how the VALIANT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage VALIANT passes first time 82.3% of the time; by 20k that's 94.7%.

80%89%99%0k: 82.3% pass (79 tests)10k: 96.0% pass (100 tests)20k: 94.7% pass (57 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 VALIANT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
7 24.1
brakes
7 24.1
steering and suspension
7 24.1
body and structure
4 13.8
fuel and exhaust
1 3.4
driving controls
1 3.4
structure and attachments
1 3.4
tyres and wheels
1 3.4

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 VALIANT beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 VALIANT.

Compare with any bike

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

More VELOCETTE models

other VELOCETTE bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
VELOCETTE VENOM 94.4% pass · 5,005 tests
VELOCETTE VIPER 93.8% pass · 1,970 tests
VELOCETTE LE 92.2% pass · 1,968 tests
VELOCETTE MAC 92.5% pass · 1,489 tests
VELOCETTE MSS 95.2% pass · 1,232 tests
VELOCETTE THRUXTON 95.3% pass · 570 tests

See all VELOCETTE models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1961 (92.2% pass). Weakest: 1958 (87.4%).

86%90%93%1958: 87.4% pass (95 tests)1961: 92.2% pass (51 tests)19581961

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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