HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXE

1340cc Petrol Class 2

#1639 of 5426 overall #276 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #327 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.9%

first-time pass rate

5.1%

failed outright

11,168

median miles at test

997

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2020

The FXE's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.8 points since 2006, 91.1% to 85.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXE passes first time 87.4% of the time; by 40k that's 95.9%.

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 FXE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	43	31.6	0.6×
brakes	37	27.2	0.6×
reg plates and vin	14	10.3	1.8×
tyres and wheels	12	8.8	0.5×
steering and suspension	9	6.6	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	7	5.1	0.9×
lamps and reflectors	6	4.4	0.3×
drive system	4	2.9	0.6×
structure and attachments	2	1.5	0.3×
suspension	2	1.5	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 FXE 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 FXE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1971 (98.4% pass). Weakest: 1979 (84.5%).

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 FXE FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXE reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXE is more reliable than average for its class: 87.9% of its 997 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1639 of 5426 models.

What does a FXE fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed FXE tests.

What is the best year of FXE to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1971-registered examples do best (98.4%) and 1979 worst (84.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXE last?

The median FXE shows 11,168 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 95.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.