Bsa Rocket vs Honda Shadow

The Bsa Rocket passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda Shadow: 93.1% vs 81.0%, a 12.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Bsa Rocket	Honda Shadow
First-time pass rate	93.1%	81.0%
Outright fail rate	3.3%	11.2%
Engine size	650cc	700cc
Rank among all models	#279 of 5428	#3379 of 5428
Median miles at test	6,466	18,246
MOT tests analysed	331	6,066
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Bsa Rocket	Honda Shadow
2006	97.0%	84.5%
2007	100.0%	80.7%
2008	90.9%	79.1%
2012	83.9%	81.5%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Bsa Rocket	Honda Shadow
0k-10k miles	91.5%	87.3%
10k-20k miles	91.7%	81.5%
20k-30k miles	94.6%	77.7%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

BSA ROCKET 93.1% pass · 331 tests HONDA SHADOW 81.0% pass · 6,066 tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.