HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF FAT BOB

1584cc Petrol Class 2

#2331 of 5426 overall #366 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #422 of 465 cruiser bikes

85.6%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

11,447

median miles at test

975

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2025

The FXDF FAT BOB's first-time pass rate has risen 16.8 points since 2011, 77.0% to 93.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXDF FAT BOB passes first time 85.6% of the time; by 20k that's 85.4%.

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 FXDF FAT BOB

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	21	25	0.5×
lighting and signalling	17	20.2	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	15	17.9	0.8×
fuel and exhaust	8	9.5	1.1×
suspension	6	7.1	0.8×
tyres	5	6	0.5×
reg plates and vin	4	4.8	0.7×
steering and suspension	4	4.8	0.1×
driving controls	2	2.4	0.9×
tyres and wheels	2	2.4	0.1×

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 FXDF FAT BOB beats 0 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 FXDF FAT BOB.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (88.2% pass). Weakest: 2008 (83.7%).

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 FXDF FAT BOB FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF FAT BOB reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF FAT BOB is about average for its class: 85.6% of its 975 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2331 of 5426 models.

What does a FXDF FAT BOB fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed FXDF FAT BOB tests.

What is the best year of FXDF FAT BOB to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (88.2%) and 2008 worst (83.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXDF FAT BOB last?

The median FXDF FAT BOB shows 11,447 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 85.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.