HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#1883 of 5426 overall #327 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #381 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.1%

first-time pass rate

4.5%

failed outright

5,308

median miles at test

774

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2016–2025

The FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13's first-time pass rate has risen 9.5 points since 2016, 79.2% to 88.7%.

What fails on a FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	14	20.6	0.8×
lighting and signalling	12	17.6	0.2×
reg plates and vin	9	13.2	1.6×
structure and attachments	9	13.2	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	5	7.4	0.7×
tyres and wheels	5	7.4	0.3×
steering	5	7.4	0.6×
wheels	3	4.4	6.5×
brakes	3	4.4	0.1×
suspension	3	4.4	0.5×

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 XL 1200 X 13 beats 0 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 XL 1200 X 13.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2013 (87.7% pass). Weakest: 2013 (87.7%).

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 XL 1200 X 13 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.1% of its 774 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1883 of 5426 models.

What does a FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 21% of all defects recorded against failed FORTY EIGHT XL 1200 X 13 tests.