HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF
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
The FLSTF's first-time pass rate has risen 1.9 points since 2005, 89.9% to 91.8%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage FLSTF passes first time 90.1% of the time; by 50k that's 89.3%.
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 FLSTF
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
696 | 26.3 | 0.4× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
402 | 15.2 | 0.6× |
| brakes |
|
388 | 14.7 | 0.2× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
345 | 13 | 1.4× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
227 | 8.6 | 0.3× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
179 | 6.8 | 0.7× |
| steering and suspension |
|
116 | 4.4 | 0.1× |
| tyres |
|
110 | 4.2 | 0.5× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
109 | 4.1 | 1.6× |
| structure and attachments |
|
73 | 2.8 | 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
On first-time pass rate the FLSTF beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDWG).
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 FLSTF.
Compare with any bike
More HARLEY-DAVIDSON models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2013 (92.7% pass). Weakest: 1994 (83.9%).
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 FLSTF FAQ
Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF reliable?
The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF is more reliable than average for its class: 89.0% of its 30,148 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1269 of 5428 models.
What does a FLSTF fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed FLSTF tests.
What is the best year of FLSTF to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (92.7%) and 1994 worst (83.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a FLSTF last?
The median FLSTF shows 12,480 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 89.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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