BUELL XB 12S LIGHTNING

1203cc Petrol Class 2

#2940 of 5426 overall #22 of 23 BUELLs #1859 of 2787 other bikes

83.1%

first-time pass rate

10.3%

failed outright

8,630

median miles at test

320

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2009

The XB 12S LIGHTNING's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.8 points since 2008, 92.7% to 82.9%.

What fails on a XB 12S LIGHTNING

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	27	33.3
lamps and reflectors	15	18.5
brakes	9	11.1
steering and suspension	9	11.1
suspension	7	8.6
reg plates and vin	5	6.2
tyres and wheels	3	3.7
structure and attachments	2	2.5
body and structure	2	2.5
Identification of the vehicle	2	2.5

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 XB 12S LIGHTNING beats 1 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 XB 12S LIGHTNING.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (93.2% pass). Weakest: 2004 (79.3%).

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.