Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 524 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 12.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long MOT Reliability Overview
The Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 524 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.2% and a failure rate of 12.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long presents for MOT with approximately 11,436 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2005 models achieve the highest pass rate at 90.9%, while 2008 models have the lowest at 80.7%. This 10.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 5.2% of all tests. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors at 4.6%. Motorcycle tyres and wheels rounds out the top three at 2.1%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 5.3% | 28 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 4.6% | 24 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.5% | 13 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 2.3% | 12 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Brakes | 2.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 1.5% | 8 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.1% | 6 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.6% | 3 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 0.6% | 3 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.4% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 11,436 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 4.67 | 5.3% | 28 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 4.01 | 4.6% | 24 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 2.17 | 2.5% | 13 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.00 | 2.3% | 12 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 1.84 | 2.1% | 11 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 1.34 | 1.5% | 8 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.00 | 1.1% | 6 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.50 | 0.6% | 3 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.50 | 0.6% | 3 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.33 | 0.4% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long has 11,436 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 11.19% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long MOT Data
The Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 524 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.2% and a failure rate of 12.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle lamps and reflectors for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Xb12ss Lightning Long is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 5.2% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 5.2% of MOT failures on the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 4.6% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 4.6% of MOT failures on the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Motorcycle tyres and wheels — 2.1% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 2.1% of MOT failures on the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long?
Based on 524 MOT tests in our database, the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long has an overall pass rate of 87.2% (12.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long?
The top 3 reasons a Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.2%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (4.6%), 3. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (2.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long reliable?
With a 12.8% MOT failure rate, the Xb12ss Lightning Long is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Buell Xb12ss Lightning Long?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.2%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (4.6%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (2.1%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.