HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTN

1584cc Petrol Class 2

#988 of 5426 overall #156 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #190 of 465 cruiser bikes

89.9%

first-time pass rate

4.3%

failed outright

10,606

median miles at test

3,534

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The FLSTN's first-time pass rate has risen 4.1 points since 2006, 87.9% to 92.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FLSTN passes first time 90.8% of the time; by 40k that's 89.2%.

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 FLSTN

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	58	23	0.3×
reg plates and vin	42	16.7	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	35	13.9	0.5×
brakes	29	11.5	0.2×
tyres and wheels	20	7.9	0.3×
tyres	19	7.5	0.7×
Identification of the vehicle	17	6.7	2.1×
fuel and exhaust	13	5.2	0.4×
steering and suspension	11	4.4	0.1×
suspension	8	3.2	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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the FLSTN beats 4 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 FLSTN.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (93.7% pass). Weakest: 2005 (78.3%).

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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTN FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTN reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTN is more reliable than average for its class: 89.9% of its 3,534 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #988 of 5426 models.

What does a FLSTN fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 23% of all defects recorded against failed FLSTN tests.

What is the best year of FLSTN to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (93.7%) and 2005 worst (78.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FLSTN last?

The median FLSTN shows 10,606 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 89.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.