HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY EIGHT

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#1332 of 5426 overall #216 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #260 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.8%

first-time pass rate

4.7%

failed outright

5,272

median miles at test

2,341

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2017–2025

The FORTY EIGHT's first-time pass rate has risen 3.0 points since 2017, 85.6% to 88.6%.

What fails on a FORTY EIGHT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	69	37.1	1.4×
Identification of the vehicle	41	22	7.4×
structure and attachments	26	14	1.5×
reg plates and vin	12	6.5	0.8×
lighting and signalling	10	5.4	0.1×
suspension	8	4.3	0.3×
tyres	8	4.3	0.5×
brakes	6	3.2	0.1×
tyres and wheels	3	1.6	0.1×
steering and suspension	3	1.6	—

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 FORTY EIGHT beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k 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 FORTY EIGHT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2014 (89.7% pass). Weakest: 2013 (85.7%).

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 FORTY EIGHT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY EIGHT reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY EIGHT is more reliable than average for its class: 88.8% of its 2,341 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1332 of 5426 models.

What does a FORTY EIGHT fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 37% of all defects recorded against failed FORTY EIGHT tests.

What is the best year of FORTY EIGHT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2014-registered examples do best (89.7%) and 2013 worst (85.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.