BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12
Model report · 2005–2025

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12

1690cc Petrol Class 2
87.2%
first-time pass rate
5.3%
failed outright
7,136
median miles at test
415
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2023

The FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12's first-time pass rate has risen 3.9 points since 2015, 87.5% to 91.4%.

74%86%98%2015: 87.5% pass (56 tests)2016: 78.3% pass (60 tests)2017: 93.8% pass (48 tests)2018: 89.2% pass (37 tests)2019: 93.5% pass (31 tests)2021: 87.5% pass (32 tests)2022: 81.1% pass (37 tests)2023: 91.4% pass (35 tests)20152023

Pass rate by mileage

how the FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12 passes first time 88.2% of the time; by 20k that's 94.3%.

80%88%97%0k: 88.2% pass (287 tests)10k: 82.4% pass (85 tests)20k: 94.3% pass (35 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 FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lamps and reflectors
10 32.3
reg plates and vin
7 22.6
Identification of the vehicle
5 16.1
brakes
3 9.7
tyres
2 6.5
lighting and signalling
2 6.5
steering
1 3.2
fuel and exhaust
1 3.2

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 FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12 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 FLS103 SOFTAIL SLIM 12.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (87.3% pass). Weakest: 2012 (87.3%).

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.