Harley-davidson Nightster MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 183 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 14.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Harley-davidson Nightster MOT Reliability Overview
The Harley-davidson Nightster is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 183 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.8% and a failure rate of 14.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Nightster earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Nightster presents for MOT with approximately 13,262 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2007 models achieve the highest pass rate at 93.9%, while 2008 models have the lowest at 81.2%. This 12.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Nightster is Motorcycle fuel and exhaust, affecting 7.7% of all tests. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust 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 reg plates and vin at 4.4%. Motorcycle brakes rounds out the top three at 4.4%. 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 Fuel And Exhaust | 8.2% | 15 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 6.0% | 11 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 4.4% | 8 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Brakes | 4.4% | 8 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.2% | 4 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.2% | 4 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.1% | 2 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 0.5% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 13,262 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 fuel and exhaust | 6.18 | 8.2% | 15 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 4.53 | 6.0% | 11 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 3.30 | 4.4% | 8 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 3.30 | 4.4% | 8 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.88 | 3.8% | 7 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.65 | 2.2% | 4 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.65 | 2.2% | 4 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.82 | 1.1% | 2 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.41 | 0.5% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Harley-davidson Nightster has 13,262 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 Harley-davidson Nightster has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 10.71% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Harley-davidson Nightster MOT Data
The Harley-davidson Nightster is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 183 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.8% and a failure rate of 14.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Harley-davidson Nightster owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle fuel and exhaust and motorcycle reg plates and vin 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 Nightster is likely to perform.
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust — 7.7% of failures
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust issues account for 7.7% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Nightster. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust 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 reg plates and vin — 4.4% of failures
Motorcycle reg plates and vin issues account for 4.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Nightster. Motorcycle reg plates and vin 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 brakes — 4.4% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 4.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Nightster. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley-davidson Nightster?
Based on 183 MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Nightster has an overall pass rate of 85.8% (14.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley-davidson Nightster?
The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Nightster fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (7.7%), 2. Motorcycle reg plates and vin (4.4%), 3. Motorcycle brakes (4.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Harley-davidson Nightster reliable?
With a 14.2% MOT failure rate, the Nightster is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Harley-davidson Nightster?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (7.7%); Motorcycle reg plates and vin (4.4%); Motorcycle brakes (4.4%). 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.