ROYAL ENFIELD THUNDERBIRD

350cc Petrol Class 2

#2720 of 5426 overall #36 of 36 ROYAL ENFIELDs #442 of 465 cruiser bikes

84.1%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

3,398

median miles at test

377

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a THUNDERBIRD

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	13	30.2
lamps and reflectors	7	16.3
brakes	6	14
tyres and wheels	3	7
steering and suspension	3	7
structure and attachments	3	7
fuel and exhaust	2	4.7
sidecar	2	4.7
tyres	2	4.7
body and structure	2	4.7

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

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (88.3% pass). Weakest: 2005 (84.6%).

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.