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Royal Enfield Crusader Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Royal Enfield Crusader car check

Is the Royal Enfield Crusader reliable? We analysed 653 real MOT tests across 157 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 653 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.0%
Typical Mileage
7,320mi
Annual Mileage
90mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
67yrs

The Royal Enfield Crusader is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Royal Enfield Crusader.

Royal Enfield Crusader Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Royal Enfield Crusader. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Royal Enfield Crusader MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Royal Enfield Crusader to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.9%
1964
90.9%
1962
94.2%
1961
91.9%
1960
86.3%
1959

Royal Enfield Crusader Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Royal Enfield Crusader fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 5
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 3
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 3
wheel bearings have excessive free play 3
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 3
Steering control has Insufficient clearance at full lock affecting the riders grasp of handlebars 2
wheel bearings are excessively rough 2
Horn not working 2
Footrest insecure 2
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on main beam 2

Royal Enfield Crusader Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Royal Enfield Crusader owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
19 mi/yr
Typical
90 mi/yr
Average
301 mi/yr
Heavy usage
250 mi/yr

Royal Enfield Crusader MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Royal Enfield Crusader year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1964 62 91.9% 977 11,905 27,304
1962 66 90.9% 756 2,524 20,858
1961 120 94.2% 4,138 18,115 19,884
1960 62 91.9% 502 2,950 32,555
1959 51 86.3% 2,896 17,025 34,476

How Long Does a Royal Enfield Crusader Last?

Based on 157 Royal Enfield Crusader vehicles on UK roads.

Average
41.1 years
Median
48.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
67 years

Royal Enfield Crusader Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Royal Enfield Crusader MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
7,320 mi
75th Percentile
23,533 mi
95th Percentile
51,950 mi
Max Recorded
95,046 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Royal Enfield Crusader

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1961

94.2% MOT pass rate from 120 tests

Year to avoid
1959

86.3% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Royal Enfield Crusader is 1961, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.2% across 120 tests. The 1959 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Royal Enfield Crusader Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Royal Enfield Crusader THIS CAR 92.0% 653 7,320 mi 67 yrs
Royal Enfield Bullet 500 89.5% 29,852 6,990 mi 32 yrs
Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650 91.7% 9,779 4,502 mi — yrs
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 90.5% 8,105 6,317 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Sharan SE TDI 115 69.6% 740 150,722 mi — yrs

Compared to the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (89.5% pass rate) and the Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650 (91.7% pass rate), the Royal Enfield Crusader outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Royal Enfield Crusader?

The Royal Enfield Crusader has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.0% across 653 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Royal Enfield Crusader are headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (5 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (3), and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (3). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Royal Enfield Crusader owner drives around 90 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Royal Enfield Crusader models stay on UK roads for around 67 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Royal Enfield Crusader — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Royal Enfield Crusader reliable?
Based on 653 MOT tests, the Royal Enfield Crusader has a 92.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Royal Enfield Crusader?
The most common MOT failures are headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and shock absorber has inadequate damping effect.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Royal Enfield Crusader do per year?
The typical Royal Enfield Crusader does around 90 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Royal Enfield Crusader last?
Most Royal Enfield Crusader models stay on UK roads for around 67 years based on our analysis of 157 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Royal Enfield Crusader?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Royal Enfield Crusader?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Royal Enfield Crusader is 1961 with a 94.2% pass rate across 120 tests.