Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Buell S1: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which S1 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 86.1% average, from 3,738 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2001 (89.1% of 460 tests). Lowest: 1997 (82.2% of 704). Years more than two points below the model average: 1997.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (86.1%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 704 | 82.2% | -3.9 pp |
| 1998 | 1,143 | 85.8% | -0.3 pp |
| 1999 | 769 | 87.8% | +1.7 pp |
| 2000 | 595 | 85.7% | -0.4 pp |
| 2001 | 460 | 89.1% | +3.0 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which S1 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1997 registered examples pass first time less often than the Buell S1 overall (86.1%); the 1997 cohort is lowest at 82.2% from 704 tests.
- Which S1 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 2001, at 89.1% of 460 first tests (2005–2025).
- How much does the S1 pass rate vary by year?
- 6.9 percentage points between the highest (2001, 89.1%) and lowest (1997, 82.2%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Buell S1 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #2173 of 5428 models· other Buell models: XB12S, M2, XB12R, XB9R, X1, XB9SX