HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXST

1449cc Petrol Class 2

#1212 of 5426 overall #194 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #234 of 465 cruiser bikes

89.2%

first-time pass rate

4.4%

failed outright

17,149

median miles at test

5,664

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The FXST's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.3 points since 2005, 96.9% to 89.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXST passes first time 88.6% of the time; by 50k that's 90.9%.

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 FXST

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	182	35.5	0.5×
brakes	76	14.8	0.2×
lamps and reflectors	68	13.3	0.5×
reg plates and vin	48	9.4	1.0×
steering and suspension	39	7.6	0.2×
tyres and wheels	35	6.8	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	21	4.1	0.5×
Identification of the vehicle	20	3.9	1.5×
structure and attachments	12	2.3	0.3×
steering	11	2.1	0.4×

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 FXST beats 3 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 FXST.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1991 (94.0% pass). Weakest: 1985 (81.4%).

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 FXST FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXST reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXST is more reliable than average for its class: 89.2% of its 5,664 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1212 of 5426 models.

What does a FXST fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed FXST tests.

What is the best year of FXST to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1991-registered examples do best (94.0%) and 1985 worst (81.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXST last?

The median FXST shows 17,149 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 90.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.