BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FXSTS
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTS

1340cc Petrol Class 2
#1574 of 5428 overall #266 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #316 of 465 cruiser bikes
88.1%
first-time pass rate
4.8%
failed outright
16,326
median miles at test
2,261
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+4.1pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The FXSTS's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (92.6% → 92.3%).

80%89%97%2006: 92.6% pass (162 tests)2007: 84.9% pass (152 tests)2008: 86.9% pass (145 tests)2009: 83.2% pass (131 tests)2010: 92.4% pass (131 tests)2011: 84.4% pass (109 tests)2012: 86.8% pass (106 tests)2013: 85.1% pass (114 tests)2014: 83.1% pass (130 tests)2015: 91.4% pass (116 tests)2016: 86.5% pass (111 tests)2017: 92.6% pass (108 tests)2018: 89.1% pass (92 tests)2019: 88.2% pass (93 tests)2020: 93.0% pass (71 tests)2021: 84.1% pass (107 tests)2022: 91.2% pass (102 tests)2023: 86.5% pass (111 tests)2024: 93.9% pass (66 tests)2025: 92.3% pass (78 tests)20062025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FXSTS passes first time 87.7% of the time; by 50k that's 91.1%.

87%90%93%0k: 87.7% pass (684 tests)10k: 87.5% pass (662 tests)20k: 90.4% pass (416 tests)30k: 87.7% pass (195 tests)40k: 92.1% pass (126 tests)50k: 91.1% pass (45 tests)0k30k50k

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 FXSTS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
80 37.7 0.5×
brakes
27 12.7 0.2×
reg plates and vin
24 11.3 1.6×
steering and suspension
19 9 0.2×
tyres and wheels
19 9 0.4×
fuel and exhaust
19 9 1.1×
lamps and reflectors
12 5.7 0.2×
Identification of the vehicle
5 2.4 1.0×
driving controls
4 1.9 0.8×
body and structure
3 1.4 0.3×

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 FXSTS beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 89.0% pass · 30.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.8k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C 88.4% pass · 15.7k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDWG 88.7% pass · 14.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 FXSTS.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Fxsts

More HARLEY-DAVIDSON models

other HARLEY-DAVIDSON bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.3k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 89.0% pass · 30.1k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.8k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C 88.4% pass · 15.7k tests
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883 87.2% pass · 14.9k tests

See all HARLEY-DAVIDSON models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1994 (94.9%). Lowest: 1999 (79.7%). Every Fxsts year compared →

77%87%98%1989: 90.4% pass (125 tests)1990: 91.6% pass (83 tests)1991: 86.9% pass (175 tests)1992: 93.9% pass (132 tests)1993: 88.2% pass (110 tests)1994: 94.9% pass (79 tests)1995: 88.8% pass (89 tests)1996: 85.5% pass (110 tests)1997: 89.9% pass (227 tests)1998: 82.1% pass (240 tests)1999: 79.7% pass (128 tests)2001: 91.6% pass (143 tests)2002: 89.5% pass (219 tests)2003: 89.6% pass (202 tests)2004: 83.8% pass (74 tests)198919962004

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 FXSTS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTS reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTS is more reliable than average for its class: 88.1% of its 2,261 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1574 of 5428 models.

What does a FXSTS fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 38% of all defects recorded against failed FXSTS tests.

What is the best year of FXSTS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (94.9%) and 1999 worst (79.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FXSTS last?

The median FXSTS shows 16,326 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 91.1% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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