HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDSE

1802cc Petrol Class 2

#587 of 5426 overall #87 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #111 of 465 cruiser bikes

91.4%

first-time pass rate

4.2%

failed outright

9,388

median miles at test

428

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2017

The FXDSE's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.3 points since 2012, 96.9% to 94.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXDSE passes first time 92.0% of the time; by 20k that's 88.2%.

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 FXDSE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	5	16.1
fuel and exhaust	4	12.9
tyres	4	12.9
tyres and wheels	3	9.7
brakes	3	9.7
lamps and reflectors	3	9.7
steering and suspension	3	9.7
Identification of the vehicle	3	9.7
structure and attachments	2	6.5
reg plates and vin	1	3.2

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the FXDSE beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, TRIUMPH ROCKET III).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.7k tests TRIUMPH ROCKET III 88.3% pass · 15.5k 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 FXDSE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (93.6% pass). Weakest: 2008 (92.2%).

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.