Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORSTER
The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The SPORSTER's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.4 points since 2006, 85.4% to 80.0%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage SPORSTER passes first time 80.5% 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
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
44 | 35.5 | 1.0× |
| brakes |
|
25 | 20.2 | 0.6× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
12 | 9.7 | 0.8× |
| steering and suspension |
|
10 | 8.1 | 0.3× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
9 | 7.3 | 2.1× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
7 | 5.6 | 0.4× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
7 | 5.6 | 1.1× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
4 | 3.2 | 2.3× |
| steering |
|
3 | 2.4 | 1.0× |
| structure and attachments |
|
3 | 2.4 | 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
On first-time pass rate the SPORSTER beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).
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.
Compare with any bike
More HARLEY-DAVIDSON models
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1994 (93.8%). Lowest: 2006 (63.5%). Every Sporster year compared →
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
Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORSTER reliable?
The HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORSTER is about average for its class: 83.3% of its 738 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2895 of 5428 models.
What does a SPORSTER fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling: 35% 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, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.
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