HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTS

1340cc Petrol Class 2

#1541 of 5426 overall #260 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #310 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.2%

first-time pass rate

4.7%

failed outright

16,362

median miles at test

2,254

MOT tests, 2005–2025

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 (92.5% → 92.3%).

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 87.9% of the time; by 50k that's 91.1%.

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	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	79	38	0.5×
brakes	27	13	0.2×
reg plates and vin	23	11.1	1.5×
tyres and wheels	19	9.1	0.4×
steering and suspension	18	8.7	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	18	8.7	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	12	5.8	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 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 FXSTS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (94.9% pass). Weakest: 1999 (79.7%).

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: 88.2% of its 2,254 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1541 of 5426 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 16,362 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 91.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.