BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM
Model report · 2005–2025

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM

1450cc Petrol Class 2
87.4%
first-time pass rate
5.7%
failed outright
12,224
median miles at test
492
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2015

The FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM's first-time pass rate has risen 3.4 points since 2008, 83.3% to 86.7%.

75%84%93%2008: 83.3% pass (36 tests)2009: 80.0% pass (35 tests)2010: 78.1% pass (32 tests)2012: 90.0% pass (30 tests)2013: 83.9% pass (31 tests)2015: 86.7% pass (30 tests)20082015

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM passes first time 85.3% of the time; by 20k that's 86.5%.

84%88%91%0k: 85.3% pass (184 tests)10k: 90.4% pass (188 tests)20k: 86.5% pass (74 tests)0k10k20k

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 FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
12 20.7
lighting and signalling
12 20.7
reg plates and vin
10 17.2
lamps and reflectors
7 12.1
steering and suspension
5 8.6
tyres and wheels
3 5.2
fuel and exhaust
3 5.2
tyres
3 5.2
Identification of the vehicle
2 3.4
suspension
1 1.7

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C).

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 FLHRSI ROAD KING CUSTOM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (93.7% pass). Weakest: 2005 (79.3%).

76%87%97%2003: 93.7% pass (63 tests)2004: 88.7% pass (230 tests)2005: 79.3% pass (87 tests)2006: 87.4% pass (111 tests)200320052006

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.