BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC

1584cc Petrol Class 2
#1025 of 5428 overall #163 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #197 of 465 cruiser bikes
89.8%
first-time pass rate
4.8%
failed outright
15,111
median miles at test
689
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+4.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2023

The FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.1 points since 2010, 90.0% to 78.9%.

74%87%100%2010: 90.0% pass (40 tests)2011: 92.2% pass (64 tests)2012: 91.4% pass (58 tests)2013: 86.5% pass (52 tests)2014: 88.5% pass (52 tests)2015: 89.4% pass (47 tests)2016: 87.8% pass (49 tests)2017: 89.4% pass (47 tests)2018: 94.7% pass (38 tests)2019: 91.4% pass (35 tests)2020: 100.0% pass (32 tests)2021: 92.3% pass (39 tests)2022: 94.3% pass (35 tests)2023: 78.9% pass (38 tests)20102023

Pass rate by mileage

how the FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC passes first time 92.4% of the time; by 40k that's 80.6%.

78%87%95%0k: 92.4% pass (225 tests)10k: 90.7% pass (226 tests)20k: 89.7% pass (126 tests)30k: 87.5% pass (64 tests)40k: 80.6% pass (31 tests)0k20k40k

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 FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
11 20.8 0.3×
lamps and reflectors
10 18.9 0.6×
reg plates and vin
9 17 1.8×
lighting and signalling
8 15.1 0.2×
Identification of the vehicle
3 5.7 1.9×
suspension
3 5.7 0.4×
tyres
3 5.7 0.4×
audible warning (Horn)
2 3.8 1.6×
steering and suspension
2 3.8 0.1×
structure and attachments
2 3.8 0.4×

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 FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 89.0% pass · 30.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.8k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C 88.4% pass · 15.7k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDWG 88.7% pass · 14.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Flhrc Road King Classic

More HARLEY-DAVIDSON models

other HARLEY-DAVIDSON bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.3k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 89.0% pass · 30.1k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.8k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C 88.4% pass · 15.7k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883 87.2% pass · 14.9k tests

See all HARLEY-DAVIDSON models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2007 (90.2%). Lowest: 2006 (88.7%). Every Flhrc Road King Classic year compared →

88%89%91%2006: 88.7% pass (133 tests)2007: 90.2% pass (266 tests)2008: 89.8% pass (236 tests)200620072008

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 FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC is more reliable than average for its class: 89.8% of its 689 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1025 of 5428 models.

What does a FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 21% of all defects recorded against failed FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC tests.

What is the best year of FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (90.2%) and 2006 worst (88.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC last?

The median FLHRC ROAD KING CLASSIC shows 15,111 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 80.6% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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