HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDC

1584cc Petrol Class 2

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

89.9%

first-time pass rate

4.4%

failed outright

11,269

median miles at test

7,238

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The FXDC's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.2 points since 2006, 93.5% to 90.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXDC passes first time 91.3% of the time; by 50k that's 91.9%.

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 FXDC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	113	21.8	0.7×
lighting and signalling	89	17.2	0.2×
brakes	86	16.6	0.2×
reg plates and vin	71	13.7	1.2×
steering and suspension	36	6.9	0.1×
fuel and exhaust	30	5.8	0.5×
tyres and wheels	30	5.8	0.2×
structure and attachments	23	4.4	0.3×
suspension	21	4.1	0.4×
Identification of the vehicle	19	3.7	1.1×

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 FXDC 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 FXDC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (94.0% pass). Weakest: 2005 (79.1%).

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 FXDC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDC reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDC is more reliable than average for its class: 89.9% of its 7,238 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #988 of 5426 models.

What does a FXDC fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 22% of all defects recorded against failed FXDC tests.

What is the best year of FXDC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (94.0%) and 2005 worst (79.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXDC last?

The median FXDC shows 11,269 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 91.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.