Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Harley-Davidson Soft Tail: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which Soft Tail years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 87.6% average, from 1,257 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2001 (92.1% of 63 tests). Lowest: 2005 (82.0% of 50). Years more than two points below the model average: 1990, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2005.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (87.6%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 70 | 85.7% | -1.9 pp |
| 1989 | 51 | 90.2% | +2.6 pp |
| 1990 | 85 | 84.7% | -2.9 pp |
| 1992 | 92 | 84.8% | -2.8 pp |
| 1993 | 88 | 84.1% | -3.5 pp |
| 1994 | 150 | 88.0% | +0.4 pp |
| 1995 | 51 | 86.3% | -1.3 pp |
| 1996 | 114 | 89.5% | +1.9 pp |
| 1997 | 69 | 88.4% | +0.8 pp |
| 2001 | 63 | 92.1% | +4.5 pp |
| 2002 | 55 | 85.5% | -2.1 pp |
| 2005 | 50 | 82.0% | -5.6 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 Soft Tail years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1990, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2005 registered examples pass first time less often than the Harley-Davidson Soft Tail overall (87.6%); the 2005 cohort is lowest at 82.0% from 50 tests.
- Which Soft Tail year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 2001, at 92.1% of 63 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1989, 2001.
- How much does the Soft Tail pass rate vary by year?
- 10.1 percentage points between the highest (2001, 92.1%) and lowest (2005, 82.0%) 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 Soft Tail reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #1725 of 5428 models· other Harley-Davidson models: XLH 883, Flstf, Flstc, XL, XL1200C, XL883