AJS CADWELL MOT pass rate and common failures

AJS CADWELL motorcycles pass the MOT 72.22% of the time, measured across 234 tests in the DVSA record. A further 9.83% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 14.7 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 72.22% 169 of 234

Fixed at the station 9.83% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 7,213 miles

Average age at test 6.48 years old

Engine 124cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 AJS CADWELL adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with not working - it accounts for 38.1% of failed tests on this model.
Then check the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% and does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (5.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 7,213 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
3-5 years	68.89%		90
6-10 years	74.31%		144

Why the AJS CADWELL fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Not working	38.1%	16
2	The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%	28.6%	12
3	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	14.3%	6
4	Effort inadequate at a wheel	11.9%	5
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	11.9%	5
6	Missing	11.9%	5
7	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	11.9%	5
8	Too low	11.9%	5
9	Has no recorded effort at a wheel	9.5%	4
10	Excessively binding	7.1%	3

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	5.1%	12
2	Worn to excess	4.3%	10
3	Excessively loose	3.4%	8
4	Sprocket worn to excess	2.6%	6
5	Excessively binding	2.1%	5
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.1%	5
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.1%	5
8	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.7%	4
9	Inscription illegible	1.7%	4
10	Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied	1.7%	4

AJS CADWELL for sale

No AJS CADWELL in stock at the moment - 0 other AJS bikes are advertised.

Used AJS CADWELL Used AJS All AJS AJS MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Yamaha GPD125-A NMAX 125 · 125cc	8,762	80.8%	45,039
Piaggio VESPA 79-210cc · 79-210cc	8,363	85.42%	11,710
Honda WW · 125cc	7,252	80.32%	40,134
Honda WW 125 A-M · 125cc	5,011	84.06%	29,846
Honda GLR · 125cc	4,737	79.99%	14,642
Honda CBF 100-125cc · 100-125cc	3,204	77%	15,203

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

AJS CADWELL MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the AJS CADWELL?+

72.22% of AJS CADWELL MOT tests end in a pass, based on 234 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a AJS CADWELL?+

Not working, which appears in 38.1% of failed tests on this model.

Does the AJS CADWELL get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 74.31%, against 68.89% for examples 3-5 years old.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.