VINCENT BLACK SHADOW

998cc Petrol Class 2

#182 of 5426 overall #2 of 4 VINCENTs #34 of 465 cruiser bikes

93.9%

first-time pass rate

1.1%

failed outright

13,752

median miles at test

791

MOT tests, 2005–2025

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, 96.0% to 91.3%.

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 94.3% of the time; by 50k that's 92.0%.

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	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	15	65.2	0.2×
brakes	3	13	0.1×
steering and suspension	3	13	0.1×
drive system	1	4.3	0.2×
driving controls	1	4.3	0.5×

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 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 BLACK SHADOW.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1951 (95.2% pass). Weakest: 1953 (89.7%).

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: 93.9% of its 791 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #182 of 5426 models.

What does a BLACK SHADOW fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 65% 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 (95.2%) 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 13,752 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 92.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.