HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORSTER

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#2866 of 5426 overall #386 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #448 of 465 cruiser bikes

83.4%

first-time pass rate

8.4%

failed outright

14,728

median miles at test

736

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The SPORSTER's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.4 points since 2006, 85.4% to 80.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SPORSTER's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SPORSTER passes first time 80.9% of the time; by 40k that's 81.4%.

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 SPORSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	42	34.4	0.9×
brakes	25	20.5	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	12	9.8	0.8×
steering and suspension	10	8.2	0.3×
reg plates and vin	9	7.4	2.1×
tyres and wheels	7	5.7	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	7	5.7	1.1×
Identification of the vehicle	4	3.3	2.4×
steering	3	2.5	1.0×
structure and attachments	3	2.5	0.6×

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 SPORSTER 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 SPORSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (93.8% pass). Weakest: 2006 (63.5%).

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 SPORSTER FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORSTER reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORSTER is about average for its class: 83.4% of its 736 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2866 of 5426 models.

What does a SPORSTER fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed SPORSTER tests.

What is the best year of SPORSTER to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (93.8%) and 2006 worst (63.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SPORSTER last?

The median SPORSTER shows 14,728 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 81.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.