Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 88 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 19.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster MOT Reliability Overview
The Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 88 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% and a failure rate of 19.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster presents for MOT with approximately 20,469 miles on the clock.
The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster is Identification of the vehicle, affecting 5.7% of all tests. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 4.5%. Motorcycle brakes rounds out the top three at 4.5%. 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
* 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 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 5.7% | 5 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 5.7% | 5 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 4.5% | 4 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 4.5% | 4 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 3.4% | 3 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Suspension | 3.4% | 3 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 3.4% | 3 |
| 8 | Items Not Tested | 2.3% | 2 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 2.3% | 2 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.1% | 1 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 1.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 20,469 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of the vehicle | 2.78 | 5.7% | 5 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.78 | 5.7% | 5 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 2.22 | 4.5% | 4 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.22 | 4.5% | 4 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.67 | 3.4% | 3 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 1.67 | 3.4% | 3 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.67 | 3.4% | 3 |
| Items Not Tested | 1.11 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 1.11 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.56 | 1.1% | 1 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.56 | 1.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster has 20,469 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 Xl1200 Sportster has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 9.43% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster MOT Data
The Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 88 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% and a failure rate of 19.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on identification of the vehicle and motorcycle lighting and signalling 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 Xl1200 Sportster is likely to perform.
Identification of the vehicle — 5.7% of failures
Identification of the vehicle issues account for 5.7% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 4.5% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 4.5% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster. 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 brakes — 4.5% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 4.5% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster. 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 Xl1200 Sportster?
Based on 88 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster has an overall pass rate of 80.7% (19.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster?
The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster fails its MOT are: 1. Identification of the vehicle (5.7%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (4.5%), 3. Motorcycle brakes (4.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster reliable?
With a 19.3% MOT failure rate, the Xl1200 Sportster is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Harley-davidson Xl1200 Sportster?
Based on failure data, focus on: Identification of the vehicle (5.7%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (4.5%); Motorcycle brakes (4.5%). 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.