HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOM

1340cc Petrol Class 2

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

86.0%

first-time pass rate

6.0%

failed outright

9,711

median miles at test

1,595

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The CUSTOM's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.4 points since 2006, 89.2% to 86.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage CUSTOM passes first time 85.4% of the time; by 50k that's 93.8%.

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 CUSTOM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	101	33	0.7×
brakes	57	18.6	0.6×
steering and suspension	43	14.1	0.6×
reg plates and vin	35	11.4	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	20	6.5	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	15	4.9	1.1×
tyres and wheels	15	4.9	0.4×
body and structure	8	2.6	0.9×
structure and attachments	7	2.3	0.5×
steering	5	1.6	0.5×

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 CUSTOM beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.7k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C 88.4% pass · 15.7k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDWG 88.7% pass · 14.6k 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 CUSTOM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1975 (91.1% pass). Weakest: 2000 (78.8%).

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 CUSTOM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOM reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOM is about average for its class: 86.0% of its 1,595 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2196 of 5426 models.

What does a CUSTOM fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 33% of all defects recorded against failed CUSTOM tests.

What is the best year of CUSTOM to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1975-registered examples do best (91.1%) and 2000 worst (78.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CUSTOM last?

The median CUSTOM shows 9,711 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 93.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.