BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R

984cc Petrol Class 2

#2050 of 5426 overall #8 of 23 BUELLs #1247 of 2787 other bikes

86.5%

first-time pass rate

9.7%

failed outright

6,608

median miles at test

259

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The FIREBOLT XB9R's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.7 points since 2006, 87.5% to 78.8%.

What fails on a FIREBOLT XB9R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	18	36.7
steering and suspension	12	24.5
brakes	6	12.2
tyres and wheels	6	12.2
reg plates and vin	3	6.1
fuel and exhaust	2	4.1
body and structure	1	2
structure and attachments	1	2

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the FIREBOLT XB9R beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 FIREBOLT XB9R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (88.1% pass). Weakest: 2003 (83.1%).

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.