Harley Davidson Xl1200s MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,216 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 13.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Harley Davidson Xl1200s MOT Reliability Overview
The Harley Davidson Xl1200s is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,216 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 15 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.3% and a failure rate of 13.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Harley Davidson Xl1200s earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley Davidson Xl1200s presents for MOT with approximately 14,628 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2009 models achieve the highest pass rate at 92.5%, while 2004 models have the lowest at 76.7%. This 15.8 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Harley Davidson Xl1200s is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 6.3% 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 brakes at 4.9%. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors rounds out the top three at 3.8%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
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 | 7.0% | 226 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 5.4% | 175 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.8% | 123 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 2.8% | 90 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 2.7% | 87 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.5% | 82 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 2.3% | 75 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.3% | 41 |
| 9 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.9% | 29 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.7% | 23 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Drive System | 0.7% | 22 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Tyres | 0.6% | 20 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.4% | 12 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.3% | 10 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.2% | 7 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 14,628 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 | 4.80 | 7.0% | 226 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 3.72 | 5.4% | 175 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.61 | 3.8% | 123 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 1.91 | 2.8% | 90 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.85 | 2.7% | 87 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.74 | 2.5% | 82 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.59 | 2.3% | 75 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.87 | 1.3% | 41 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.62 | 0.9% | 29 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.49 | 0.7% | 23 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.47 | 0.7% | 22 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.43 | 0.6% | 20 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.26 | 0.4% | 12 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.21 | 0.3% | 10 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.15 | 0.2% | 7 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Harley Davidson Xl1200s has 14,628 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 Xl1200s has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 9.37% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Harley Davidson Xl1200s MOT Data
The Harley Davidson Xl1200s is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,216 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 15 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.3% and a failure rate of 13.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Harley Davidson Xl1200s 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 brakes 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 Xl1200s is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.3% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 6.3% of MOT failures on the Harley Davidson Xl1200s. 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 — 4.9% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 4.9% of MOT failures on the Harley Davidson Xl1200s. 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).
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 3.8% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 3.8% of MOT failures on the Harley Davidson Xl1200s. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley Davidson Xl1200s?
Based on 3,216 MOT tests in our database, the Harley Davidson Xl1200s has an overall pass rate of 86.3% (13.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley Davidson Xl1200s?
The top 3 reasons a Harley Davidson Xl1200s fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.3%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (4.9%), 3. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (3.8%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Harley Davidson Xl1200s reliable?
With a 13.7% MOT failure rate, the Xl1200s is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Harley Davidson Xl1200s?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.3%); Motorcycle brakes (4.9%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (3.8%). 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.