1990 Harley Davidson Sportster — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age

36 years

Current Age

79.2%

Latest Pass Rate

451

Total Tests (All Years)

23,436 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1990 Harley Davidson Sportster as it ages.

19 yrs82.5%

→ ↓1.9%

20 yrs80.6%

→ ↓14.8%

21 yrs65.8%

→ ↑20.6%

22 yrs86.4%

→ ↓4.2%

23 yrs82.2%

→ ↑2.2%

24 yrs84.4%

→ ↓7.5%

25 yrs76.9%

→ ↓0.0%

26 yrs76.9%

→ ↑13.7%

27 yrs90.6%

→ ↓3.1%

33 yrs87.5%

→ ↓8.3%

34 yrs79.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
19 yrs	82.5%	40
20 yrs	80.6%	36
21 yrs	65.8%	38
22 yrs	86.4%	44
23 yrs	82.2%	45
24 yrs	84.4%	45
25 yrs	76.9%	52
26 yrs	76.9%	39
27 yrs	90.6%	32
33 yrs	87.5%	32
34 yrs	79.2%	48

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1990 Harley Davidson Sportster pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (34 yrs)	79.2%	48
2023 (33 yrs)	87.5%	32
2017 (27 yrs)	90.6%	32
2016 (26 yrs)	76.9%	39
2015 (25 yrs)	76.9%	52
2014 (24 yrs)	84.4%	45
2013 (23 yrs)	82.2%	45
2012 (22 yrs)	86.4%	44
2011 (21 yrs)	65.8%	38
2010 (20 yrs)	80.6%	36
2009 (19 yrs)	82.5%	40

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

82.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 40Avg Mileage 18,703Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.5%

2010

80.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 36Avg Mileage 20,013Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.9%

2011

65.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 38Avg Mileage 17,542Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 26.3%

2012

86.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 44Avg Mileage 18,122Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.4%

2013

82.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 45Avg Mileage 18,729Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 17.8%

2014

84.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 45Avg Mileage 18,138Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 22.2%

2015

76.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 52Avg Mileage 18,472Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 23.1%

2016

76.9%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 39Avg Mileage 19,492Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 30.8%

2017

90.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 32Avg Mileage 17,529Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 9.4%

2023

87.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 32Avg Mileage 21,373Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 12.5%

2024

79.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 48Avg Mileage 23,436Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 16.7%

MOT results for 1990 Harley Davidson Sportster by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	19	82.5%	40	18,703	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.5%
2010	20	80.6%	36	20,013	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.9%
2011	21	65.8%	38	17,542	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 26.3%
2012	22	86.4%	44	18,122	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.4%
2013	23	82.2%	45	18,729	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 17.8%
2014	24	84.4%	45	18,138	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 22.2%
2015	25	76.9%	52	18,472	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 23.1%
2016	26	76.9%	39	19,492	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 30.8%
2017	27	90.6%	32	17,529	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 9.4%
2023	33	87.5%	32	21,373	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 12.5%
2024	34	79.2%	48	23,436	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 16.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1990 Harley Davidson Sportster, with age trends.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

18.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

14.6%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle steering and suspension

10.6%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle suspension

9.4%

— Consistent

Motorcycle brakes

6.5%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Motorcycle brakes	5.0% (19 yrs)	8.3% (34 yrs)	+3.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 2005 2006 2008 2021

← Back to Harley Davidson Sportster overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Harley Davidson Sportster page →

About This Data

This page shows how Harley Davidson Sportster cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 451 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.