HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1200 SPORT

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#2196 of 5426 overall #357 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #411 of 465 cruiser bikes

86.0%

first-time pass rate

6.8%

failed outright

12,532

median miles at test

2,867

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The 1200 SPORT's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.7 points since 2006, 88.0% to 85.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the 1200 SPORT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 1200 SPORT passes first time 85.5% of the time; by 50k that's 87.2%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 1200 SPORT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	100	28	0.7×
brakes	71	19.9	0.5×
reg plates and vin	38	10.6	1.6×
lamps and reflectors	37	10.4	0.5×
tyres and wheels	37	10.4	0.6×
steering and suspension	25	7	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	18	5	0.8×
tyres	17	4.8	0.7×
Identification of the vehicle	7	2	1.1×
structure and attachments	7	2	0.3×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 1200 SPORT beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 1200 SPORT.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2002 (94.4% pass). Weakest: 1997 (81.3%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1200 SPORT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1200 SPORT reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1200 SPORT is about average for its class: 86.0% of its 2,867 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2196 of 5426 models.

What does a 1200 SPORT fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed 1200 SPORT tests.

What is the best year of 1200 SPORT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (94.4%) and 1997 worst (81.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 1200 SPORT last?

The median 1200 SPORT shows 12,532 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 87.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.