Bsa Thunderbolt MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 720 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 8.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Bsa Thunderbolt MOT Reliability Overview
The Bsa Thunderbolt is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 720 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 8 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.7% and a failure rate of 8.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Bsa Thunderbolt earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Bsa Thunderbolt presents for MOT with approximately 18,439 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1966 models achieve the highest pass rate at 95.5%, while 1964 models have the lowest at 84.8%. This 10.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Bsa Thunderbolt is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 6.0% 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 steering and suspension at 3.2%. Motorcycle tyres and wheels 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 | 6.3% | 45 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 4.0% | 29 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Brakes | 1.7% | 12 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 1.4% | 10 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Drive System | 1.0% | 7 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.7% | 5 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 0.6% | 4 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.3% | 2 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 0.1% | 1 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 18,439 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 | 3.39 | 6.3% | 45 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.18 | 4.0% | 29 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 0.90 | 1.7% | 12 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.75 | 1.4% | 10 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.53 | 1.0% | 7 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.38 | 0.7% | 5 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.30 | 0.6% | 4 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.15 | 0.3% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.08 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.08 | 0.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Bsa Thunderbolt has 18,439 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 Thunderbolt has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.50% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Bsa Thunderbolt MOT Data
The Bsa Thunderbolt is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 720 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 8 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.7% and a failure rate of 8.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Bsa Thunderbolt 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 steering and suspension 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 Thunderbolt is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.0% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 6.0% of MOT failures on the Bsa Thunderbolt. 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 steering and suspension — 3.2% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 3.2% of MOT failures on the Bsa Thunderbolt. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Motorcycle tyres and wheels — 1.3% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 1.3% of MOT failures on the Bsa Thunderbolt. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Bsa Thunderbolt?
Based on 720 MOT tests in our database, the Bsa Thunderbolt has an overall pass rate of 91.7% (8.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Bsa Thunderbolt?
The top 3 reasons a Bsa Thunderbolt fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.0%), 2. Motorcycle steering and suspension (3.2%), 3. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (1.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Bsa Thunderbolt reliable?
With a 8.3% MOT failure rate, the Thunderbolt is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Bsa Thunderbolt?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.0%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (3.2%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (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.