VINCENT COMET

500cc Petrol Class 2

#433 of 5426 overall #3 of 4 VINCENTs #267 of 2787 other bikes

92.2%

first-time pass rate

2.2%

failed outright

8,202

median miles at test

1,612

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2012

The COMET's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2005 (93.0% → 93.3%).

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage COMET passes first time 92.4% of the time; by 50k that's 94.8%.

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 COMET

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	45	52.9	0.3×
tyres and wheels	12	14.1	0.4×
steering and suspension	12	14.1	0.2×
brakes	9	10.6	0.1×
drive system	3	3.5	0.3×
body and structure	2	2.4	0.3×
driving controls	1	1.2	0.3×
reg plates and vin	1	1.2	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 COMET beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 COMET.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1954 (96.8% pass). Weakest: 1950 (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 COMET FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VINCENT COMET reliable?

The VINCENT COMET is more reliable than average for its class: 92.2% of its 1,612 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #433 of 5426 models.

What does a COMET fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 53% of all defects recorded against failed COMET tests.

What is the best year of COMET to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1954-registered examples do best (96.8%) and 1950 worst (89.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a COMET last?

The median COMET shows 8,202 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 94.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.