Bsa Sr500 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 154 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 4.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Bsa Sr500 MOT Reliability Overview
The Bsa Sr500 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 154 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 95.5% and a failure rate of 4.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Bsa Sr500 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Bsa Sr500 presents for MOT with approximately 8,921 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1999 models achieve the highest pass rate at 98.3%, while 2001 models have the lowest at 85.3%. This 13.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Bsa Sr500 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 2.6% of all tests. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Motorcycle tyres and wheels at 1.9%. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors rounds out the top three at 1.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 3.9% | 6 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.6% | 4 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.3% | 2 |
| 4 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.6% | 1 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Brakes | 0.6% | 1 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.6% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 8,921 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 4.37 | 3.9% | 6 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 2.91 | 2.6% | 4 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.46 | 1.3% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.73 | 0.6% | 1 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 0.73 | 0.6% | 1 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.73 | 0.6% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Bsa Sr500 has 8,921 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Bsa Sr500 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.04% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Bsa Sr500 MOT Data
The Bsa Sr500 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 154 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 95.5% and a failure rate of 4.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Bsa Sr500 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle tyres and wheels for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Sr500 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 2.6% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 2.6% of MOT failures on the Bsa Sr500. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle tyres and wheels — 1.9% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 1.9% of MOT failures on the Bsa Sr500. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 1.3% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 1.3% of MOT failures on the Bsa Sr500. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Bsa Sr500?
Based on 154 MOT tests in our database, the Bsa Sr500 has an overall pass rate of 95.5% (4.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Bsa Sr500?
The top 3 reasons a Bsa Sr500 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (2.6%), 2. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (1.9%), 3. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (1.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Bsa Sr500 reliable?
With a 4.5% MOT failure rate, the Sr500 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Bsa Sr500?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (2.6%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (1.9%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (1.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.