HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE
Pass rate over time
The FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE's first-time pass rate has risen 5.1 points since 2008, 84.4% to 89.5%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE passes first time 90.2% of the time; by 30k that's 78.3%.
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 FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reg plates and vin |
|
31 | 39.7 | 2.5× |
| brakes |
|
13 | 16.7 | 0.3× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
6 | 7.7 | 0.3× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
6 | 7.7 | 0.3× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
5 | 6.4 | 0.1× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
5 | 6.4 | 2.0× |
| tyres |
|
5 | 6.4 | 0.7× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
4 | 5.1 | 0.4× |
| suspension |
|
2 | 2.6 | 0.3× |
| driving controls |
|
1 | 1.3 | 0.4× |
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 FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE 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 FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2004 (89.9% pass). Weakest: 2006 (87.0%).
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 FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE FAQ
Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE reliable?
The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE is more reliable than average for its class: 88.2% of its 1,062 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1541 of 5426 models.
What does a FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE fail its MOT on most?
reg plates and vin — 40% of all defects recorded against failed FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE tests.
What is the best year of FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (89.9%) and 2006 worst (87.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE last?
The median FLSTNI SOFTAIL DELUXE shows 11,822 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 78.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.