HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSER

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#1962 of 5426 overall #341 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #395 of 465 cruiser bikes

86.8%

first-time pass rate

7.5%

failed outright

11,009

median miles at test

228

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a SPORTSER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	12	31.6
reg plates and vin	6	15.8
brakes	5	13.2
tyres and wheels	4	10.5
fuel and exhaust	4	10.5
steering and suspension	2	5.3
driving controls	2	5.3
Identification of the vehicle	1	2.6
lamps and reflectors	1	2.6
drive system	1	2.6

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the SPORTSER 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 SPORTSER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (80.7% pass). Weakest: 1997 (80.7%).

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.