HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12

1690cc Petrol Class 2

#142 of 5426 overall #17 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #21 of 465 cruiser bikes

94.2%

first-time pass rate

3.3%

failed outright

12,656

median miles at test

976

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2025

The FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12's first-time pass rate has risen 1.6 points since 2014, 93.5% to 95.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 passes first time 96.3% of the time; by 30k that's 82.6%.

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 FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	12	26.7	0.7×
lighting and signalling	6	13.3	0.1×
brakes	5	11.1	0.1×
tyres and wheels	5	11.1	0.3×
suspension	4	8.9	0.6×
tyres	4	8.9	0.6×
steering	3	6.7	0.7×
reg plates and vin	3	6.7	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	2	4.4	0.3×
wheels	1	2.2	1.7×

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 FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 beats 4 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 FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (96.0% pass). Weakest: 2011 (91.4%).

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 FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 is more reliable than average for its class: 94.2% of its 976 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #142 of 5426 models.

What does a FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 27% of all defects recorded against failed FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 tests.

What is the best year of FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (96.0%) and 2011 worst (91.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 last?

The median FLD SWITCHBACK 1690 12 shows 12,656 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 82.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.