Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Harley-Davidson Road King: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which Road King years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 89.9% average, from 2,358 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2009 (95.5% of 66 tests). Lowest: 2003 (80.4% of 56). Years more than two points below the model average: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (89.9%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 208 | 89.4% | -0.5 pp |
| 1995 | 384 | 88.5% | -1.4 pp |
| 1996 | 383 | 91.4% | +1.5 pp |
| 1997 | 361 | 91.4% | +1.5 pp |
| 1999 | 73 | 90.4% | +0.5 pp |
| 2001 | 86 | 84.9% | -5.0 pp |
| 2003 | 56 | 80.4% | -9.5 pp |
| 2004 | 80 | 83.8% | -6.1 pp |
| 2005 | 62 | 87.1% | -2.8 pp |
| 2006 | 76 | 92.1% | +2.2 pp |
| 2008 | 140 | 90.7% | +0.8 pp |
| 2009 | 66 | 95.5% | +5.6 pp |
| 2010 | 62 | 90.3% | +0.4 pp |
| 2011 | 65 | 90.8% | +0.9 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which Road King years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 registered examples pass first time less often than the Harley-Davidson Road King overall (89.9%); the 2003 cohort is lowest at 80.4% from 56 tests.
- Which Road King year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 2009, at 95.5% of 66 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 2006, 2009.
- How much does the Road King pass rate vary by year?
- 15.1 percentage points between the highest (2009, 95.5%) and lowest (2003, 80.4%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Harley-Davidson Road King reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #988 of 5428 models· other Harley-Davidson models: XLH 883, Flstf, Flstc, XL, XL1200C, XL883