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League table/ VINCENT/BLACK SHADOW
Model report · 2005–2025

VINCENT BLACK SHADOW

998cc Petrol Class 2
#172 of 5428 overall #2 of 4 VINCENTs #31 of 465 cruiser bikes
94.0%
first-time pass rate
1.2%
failed outright
13,531
median miles at test
822
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 BLACK SHADOW's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.7 points since 2006, 96.3% to 91.6%.

89%94%98%2006: 96.3% pass (107 tests)2007: 91.9% pass (99 tests)2008: 96.0% pass (101 tests)2009: 90.8% pass (109 tests)2010: 93.6% pass (109 tests)2011: 94.7% pass (113 tests)2012: 91.6% pass (83 tests)20062012

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage BLACK SHADOW passes first time 94.5% of the time; by 50k that's 92.0%.

90%93%95%0k: 94.5% pass (346 tests)10k: 94.6% pass (203 tests)20k: 92.2% pass (64 tests)30k: 93.9% pass (66 tests)40k: 90.9% pass (33 tests)50k: 92.0% pass (50 tests)0k30k50k

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 BLACK SHADOW

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
15 62.5 0.2×
brakes
3 12.5 0.1×
steering and suspension
3 12.5 0.1×
drive system
1 4.2 0.2×
driving controls
1 4.2 0.5×
tyres and wheels
1 4.2 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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the BLACK SHADOW beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 BLACK SHADOW.

Compare with any bike

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

More VINCENT models

other VINCENT bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
VINCENT COMET 92.3% pass · 1,628 tests
VINCENT RAPIDE 94.7% pass · 1,574 tests
VINCENT HRD 91.3% pass · 207 tests
VINCENT 1000 89.2% pass · 111 tests

See all VINCENT models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1951 (95.3% pass). Weakest: 1953 (89.7%).

89%93%96%1950: 94.5% pass (110 tests)1951: 95.3% pass (190 tests)1952: 93.8% pass (162 tests)1953: 89.7% pass (78 tests)1954: 93.8% pass (65 tests)1955: 91.6% pass (83 tests)195019531955

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.

VINCENT BLACK SHADOW FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VINCENT BLACK SHADOW reliable?

The VINCENT BLACK SHADOW is more reliable than average for its class: 94.0% of its 822 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #172 of 5428 models.

What does a BLACK SHADOW fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 62% of all defects recorded against failed BLACK SHADOW tests.

What is the best year of BLACK SHADOW to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1951-registered examples do best (95.3%) and 1953 worst (89.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a BLACK SHADOW last?

The median BLACK SHADOW shows 13,531 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 92.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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