BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE
Model report · 2005–2025

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE

1800cc Petrol Class 2
#1047 of 5426 overall #165 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #200 of 465 cruiser bikes
89.7%
first-time pass rate
6.0%
failed outright
17,053
median miles at test
516
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2017

The FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.8 points since 2010, 93.5% to 85.7%.

80%88%96%2010: 93.5% pass (31 tests)2011: 91.8% pass (49 tests)2012: 89.1% pass (46 tests)2013: 88.1% pass (42 tests)2014: 85.0% pass (40 tests)2015: 91.4% pass (35 tests)2016: 82.5% pass (40 tests)2017: 85.7% pass (35 tests)20102017

Pass rate by mileage

how the FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE passes first time 92.1% of the time; by 30k that's 82.6%.

80%89%98%0k: 92.1% pass (127 tests)10k: 88.1% pass (201 tests)20k: 95.4% pass (108 tests)30k: 82.6% pass (46 tests)0k20k30k

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 FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
15 29.4 0.6×
reg plates and vin
9 17.6 1.7×
lighting and signalling
8 15.7 0.3×
lamps and reflectors
4 7.8 0.4×
steering and suspension
4 7.8 0.2×
tyres and wheels
3 5.9 0.3×
suspension
3 5.9 0.8×
Identification of the vehicle
3 5.9 2.5×
steering
1 2 0.5×
drive system
1 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 FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, TRIUMPH ROCKET III).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.7k tests TRIUMPH ROCKET III 88.3% pass · 15.5k 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 FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (92.2% pass). Weakest: 2006 (76.5%).

73%84%95%2006: 76.5% pass (51 tests)2007: 92.2% pass (295 tests)2008: 89.3% pass (169 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 FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE is more reliable than average for its class: 89.7% of its 516 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1047 of 5426 models.

What does a FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE tests.

What is the best year of FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (92.2%) and 2006 worst (76.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE last?

The median FLHRSE 3 ROAD KING SE shows 17,053 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 82.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.