Buell S1 Lightning vs BMW R1150

The BMW R1150 passes its MOT first time more often than the Buell S1 Lightning — 88.5% vs 84.1%, a 4.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Buell S1 Lightning	BMW R1150
First-time pass rate	84.1%	88.5%
Outright fail rate	8.6%	6.8%
Median miles at test	11,469	33,151
MOT tests analysed	560	170,963
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

BUELL S1 LIGHTNING 84.1% pass · 560 tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests

See each bike's full report — trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals — on its own page.