HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHTSTER

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#1818 of 5426 overall #311 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #364 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.3%

first-time pass rate

4.2%

failed outright

5,507

median miles at test

236

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a NIGHTSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
reg plates and vin	11	40.7
lighting and signalling	4	14.8
fuel and exhaust	4	14.8
tyres and wheels	2	7.4
brakes	2	7.4
lamps and reflectors	1	3.7
steering and suspension	1	3.7
structure and attachments	1	3.7
Identification of the vehicle	1	3.7

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the NIGHTSTER beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k 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 NIGHTSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (86.7% pass). Weakest: 2008 (82.1%).

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.