BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FLSTCI
Model report · 2005–2025

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTCI

1449cc Petrol Class 2
#1077 of 5428 overall #171 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #206 of 465 cruiser bikes
89.6%
first-time pass rate
4.7%
failed outright
16,868
median miles at test
9,912
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+5.1pp
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 · 2005–2025

The FLSTCI's first-time pass rate has risen 3.0 points since 2005, 87.9% to 90.9%.

86%90%94%2005: 87.9% pass (33 tests)2006: 92.0% pass (274 tests)2007: 88.1% pass (463 tests)2008: 89.3% pass (599 tests)2009: 87.3% pass (660 tests)2010: 87.5% pass (626 tests)2011: 89.4% pass (611 tests)2012: 88.4% pass (567 tests)2013: 88.2% pass (551 tests)2014: 87.2% pass (554 tests)2015: 88.5% pass (555 tests)2016: 89.8% pass (550 tests)2017: 90.7% pass (536 tests)2018: 90.7% pass (396 tests)2019: 89.8% pass (431 tests)2020: 92.7% pass (358 tests)2021: 91.0% pass (489 tests)2022: 92.4% pass (476 tests)2023: 90.7% pass (453 tests)2024: 92.8% pass (334 tests)2025: 90.9% pass (396 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FLSTCI passes first time 90.8% of the time; by 50k that's 87.9%.

87%89%92%0k: 90.8% pass (2,640 tests)10k: 89.6% pass (3,168 tests)20k: 89.0% pass (1,930 tests)30k: 89.0% pass (1,113 tests)40k: 87.8% pass (476 tests)50k: 87.9% pass (256 tests)0k30k50k

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 FLSTCI

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
176 22.1 0.3×
brakes
152 19.1 0.3×
reg plates and vin
109 13.7 1.4×
fuel and exhaust
101 12.7 1.3×
lamps and reflectors
97 12.2 0.4×
tyres and wheels
72 9.1 0.4×
Identification of the vehicle
31 3.9 1.4×
tyres
25 3.1 0.4×
steering and suspension
17 2.1 0.1×
structure and attachments
15 1.9 0.2×

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 FLSTCI 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 FLSTCI.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Flstci

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (92.4% pass). Weakest: 2008 (87.1%).

86%90%93%2000: 92.4% pass (223 tests)2001: 89.4% pass (1,035 tests)2002: 91.2% pass (933 tests)2003: 92.3% pass (1,529 tests)2004: 87.8% pass (2,543 tests)2005: 89.1% pass (2,027 tests)2006: 89.4% pass (1,078 tests)2007: 90.2% pass (174 tests)2008: 87.1% pass (124 tests)200020042008

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 FLSTCI FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTCI reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTCI is more reliable than average for its class: 89.6% of its 9,912 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1077 of 5428 models.

What does a FLSTCI fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 22% of all defects recorded against failed FLSTCI tests.

What is the best year of FLSTCI to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (92.4%) and 2008 worst (87.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FLSTCI last?

The median FLSTCI shows 16,868 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 87.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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