HARLEY-DAVIDSON HERITAGE SOFTTAIL
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage HERITAGE SOFTTAIL passes first time 89.4% of the time; by 40k that's 78.7%.
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 HERITAGE SOFTTAIL
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects |
|---|---|---|---|
| reg plates and vin |
|
22 | 28.2 |
| brakes |
|
22 | 28.2 |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
12 | 15.4 |
| lighting and signalling |
|
8 | 10.3 |
| steering and suspension |
|
3 | 3.8 |
| tyres |
|
3 | 3.8 |
| tyres and wheels |
|
2 | 2.6 |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
2 | 2.6 |
| suspension |
|
2 | 2.6 |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
2 | 2.6 |
Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.
How rivals compare
On first-time pass rate the HERITAGE SOFTTAIL 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 HERITAGE SOFTTAIL.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1994 (94.4% pass). Weakest: 1992 (70.7%).
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.