HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDS-C

1340cc Petrol Class 2

#1369 of 5426 overall #221 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #268 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.7%

first-time pass rate

6.0%

failed outright

18,250

median miles at test

871

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The FXDS-C's first-time pass rate has risen 1.1 points since 2006, 88.9% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXDS-C passes first time 89.8% of the time; by 40k that's 85.7%.

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 FXDS-C

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	20	23.5	0.5×
lighting and signalling	17	20	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	16	18.8	0.6×
reg plates and vin	8	9.4	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	6	7.1	0.9×
steering and suspension	5	5.9	0.2×
Identification of the vehicle	4	4.7	2.0×
tyres and wheels	4	4.7	0.2×
suspension	3	3.5	0.3×
tyres	2	2.4	0.3×

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 FXDS-C beats 1 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 FXDS-C.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (93.3% pass). Weakest: 1998 (86.8%).

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 FXDS-C FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDS-C reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDS-C is more reliable than average for its class: 88.7% of its 871 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1369 of 5426 models.

What does a FXDS-C fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 24% of all defects recorded against failed FXDS-C tests.

What is the best year of FXDS-C to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (93.3%) and 1998 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXDS-C last?

The median FXDS-C shows 18,250 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 85.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.