BUELL X1 LIGHTNING

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#1541 of 5426 overall #2 of 23 BUELLs #936 of 2787 other bikes

88.2%

first-time pass rate

5.4%

failed outright

12,152

median miles at test

203

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the X1 LIGHTNING's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage X1 LIGHTNING passes first time 87.5% of the time; by 20k that's 84.2%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a X1 LIGHTNING

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	7	36.8
lighting and signalling	4	21.1
tyres	3	15.8
fuel and exhaust	1	5.3
reg plates and vin	1	5.3
structure and attachments	1	5.3
suspension	1	5.3
drive system	1	5.3

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 X1 LIGHTNING 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 X1 LIGHTNING.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (89.7% pass). Weakest: 2001 (89.7%).

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.