VICTORY 8 BALL

1634cc Petrol Class 2

#3073 of 5426 overall #12 of 13 VICTORYs #1951 of 2787 other bikes

82.5%

first-time pass rate

7.1%

failed outright

9,996

median miles at test

663

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2025

The 8 BALL's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.4 points since 2011, 83.9% to 79.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the 8 BALL's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 8 BALL passes first time 81.5% of the time; by 30k that's 74.2%.

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 8 BALL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	35	34.3	1.6×
brakes	17	16.7	0.4×
lighting and signalling	12	11.8	0.3×
tyres	7	6.9	0.9×
steering	7	6.9	2.5×
structure and attachments	7	6.9	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	5	4.9	0.8×
suspension	5	4.9	0.8×
reg plates and vin	4	3.9	0.8×
Identification of the vehicle	3	2.9	2.0×

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 8 BALL beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, SUZUKI GSF1200, YAMAHA XJR1300).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k 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 8 BALL.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (90.2% pass). Weakest: 2007 (77.6%).

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.

VICTORY 8 BALL FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VICTORY 8 BALL reliable?

The VICTORY 8 BALL is less reliable than average for its class: 82.5% of its 663 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3073 of 5426 models.

What does a 8 BALL fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 34% of all defects recorded against failed 8 BALL tests.

What is the best year of 8 BALL to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (90.2%) and 2007 worst (77.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 8 BALL last?

The median 8 BALL shows 9,996 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 74.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.