HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#3854 of 5426 overall #397 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #462 of 465 cruiser bikes

78.4%

first-time pass rate

12.2%

failed outright

13,248

median miles at test

319

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the SPORTSTER 1200's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SPORTSTER 1200 passes first time 79.3% of the time; by 20k that's 73.2%.

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 SPORTSTER 1200

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	25	27.5
lamps and reflectors	18	19.8
brakes	17	18.7
reg plates and vin	8	8.8
steering and suspension	5	5.5
tyres	5	5.5
tyres and wheels	5	5.5
driving controls	3	3.3
suspension	3	3.3
audible warning (Horn)	2	2.2

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 SPORTSTER 1200 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 SPORTSTER 1200.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1989 (64.8% pass). Weakest: 1989 (64.8%).

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.