HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHT

1550cc Petrol Class 2

#1883 of 5426 overall #327 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #381 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.1%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

21,912

median miles at test

1,392

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The FLHT's first-time pass rate has risen 4.4 points since 2006, 83.3% to 87.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FLHT passes first time 88.7% of the time; by 50k that's 82.4%.

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 FLHT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	41	25.2	0.5×
brakes	38	23.3	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	16	9.8	0.5×
steering and suspension	16	9.8	0.3×
tyres and wheels	15	9.2	0.5×
reg plates and vin	12	7.4	1.4×
tyres	8	4.9	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	7	4.3	0.6×
body and structure	5	3.1	0.7×
steering	5	3.1	0.7×

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 FLHT 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 FLHT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (94.1% pass). Weakest: 2005 (84.9%).

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 FLHT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHT reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHT is more reliable than average for its class: 87.1% of its 1,392 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1883 of 5426 models.

What does a FLHT fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 25% of all defects recorded against failed FLHT tests.

What is the best year of FLHT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (94.1%) and 2005 worst (84.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FLHT last?

The median FLHT shows 21,912 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.