BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ NORTON/INTERNATIONAL
Model report · 2005–2025

NORTON INTERNATIONAL

499cc Petrol Class 2
#67 of 5428 overall #2 of 34 NORTONs #43 of 2788 other bikes
95.1%
first-time pass rate
0.3%
failed outright
7,076
median miles at test
288
MOT tests, 2005–2025

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2011

The INTERNATIONAL's first-time pass rate has risen 3.5 points since 2006, 90.9% to 94.4%.

89%94%100%2006: 90.9% pass (44 tests)2007: 97.0% pass (33 tests)2008: 100.0% pass (32 tests)2009: 97.3% pass (37 tests)2010: 95.1% pass (41 tests)2011: 94.4% pass (36 tests)20062011

What fails on a INTERNATIONAL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
1 100

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 INTERNATIONAL beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 INTERNATIONAL.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the International

More NORTON models

other NORTON bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
NORTON COMMANDO 90.8% pass · 12.3k tests
NORTON DOMINATOR 92.6% pass · 3,807 tests
NORTON ES2 91.3% pass · 2,223 tests
NORTON COMMANDER 91.6% pass · 2,094 tests
NORTON TRITON 92.1% pass · 1,496 tests
NORTON ATLAS 92.5% pass · 1,153 tests

See all NORTON models →

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Norton International reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.