HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTD
The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The FXSTD's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.9 points since 2006, 90.5% to 85.6%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage FXSTD passes first time 88.7% of the time; by 50k that's 87.0%.
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 FXSTD
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
76 | 32.3 | 0.5× |
| brakes |
|
37 | 15.7 | 0.3× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
36 | 15.3 | 0.5× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
29 | 12.3 | 1.7× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
16 | 6.8 | 0.3× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
13 | 5.5 | 0.6× |
| tyres |
|
11 | 4.7 | 0.5× |
| steering and suspension |
|
9 | 3.8 | 0.1× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
6 | 2.6 | 1.0× |
| structure and attachments |
|
2 | 0.9 | 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
On first-time pass rate the FXSTD beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C).
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 FXSTD.
Compare with any bike
More HARLEY-DAVIDSON models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2002 (89.4% pass). Weakest: 2004 (84.3%).
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 FXSTD FAQ
Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTD reliable?
The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTD is more reliable than average for its class: 87.9% of its 2,688 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1639 of 5428 models.
What does a FXSTD fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed FXSTD tests.
What is the best year of FXSTD to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (89.4%) and 2004 worst (84.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a FXSTD last?
The median FXSTD shows 13,079 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 87.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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