HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTB

1450cc Petrol Class 2

#1854 of 5426 overall #318 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #372 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.2%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

15,768

median miles at test

6,065

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The FXSTB's first-time pass rate has risen 2.4 points since 2005, 86.7% to 89.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXSTB passes first time 88.2% of the time; by 50k that's 83.9%.

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 FXSTB

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	194	27.4	0.5×
brakes	117	16.5	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	94	13.3	0.7×
reg plates and vin	68	9.6	1.6×
tyres and wheels	58	8.2	0.4×
steering and suspension	55	7.8	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	50	7.1	1.0×
Identification of the vehicle	28	3.9	2.0×
structure and attachments	23	3.2	0.5×
tyres	22	3.1	0.5×

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 FXSTB 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 FXSTB.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (94.0% pass). Weakest: 1998 (85.3%).

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 FXSTB FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTB reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTB is more reliable than average for its class: 87.2% of its 6,065 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1854 of 5426 models.

What does a FXSTB fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 27% of all defects recorded against failed FXSTB tests.

What is the best year of FXSTB to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (94.0%) and 1998 worst (85.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXSTB last?

The median FXSTB shows 15,768 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.