Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Harley-Davidson Sporster: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which Sporster years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 83.3% average, from 738 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1994 (93.8% of 65 tests). Lowest: 2006 (63.5% of 52). Years more than two points below the model average: 2006.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (83.3%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 98 | 81.6% | -1.7 pp |
| 1991 | 50 | 86.0% | +2.7 pp |
| 1994 | 65 | 93.8% | +10.5 pp |
| 1996 | 54 | 83.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 52 | 63.5% | -19.8 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 Sporster years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 2006 registered examples pass first time less often than the Harley-Davidson Sporster overall (83.3%); the 2006 cohort is lowest at 63.5% from 52 tests.
- Which Sporster year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1994, at 93.8% of 65 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1991, 1994.
- How much does the Sporster pass rate vary by year?
- 30.3 percentage points between the highest (1994, 93.8%) and lowest (2006, 63.5%) 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 Sporster reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #2895 of 5428 models· other Harley-Davidson models: XLH 883, Flstf, Flstc, XL, XL1200C, XL883