HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER S

1252cc Petrol Class 2

#798 of 5426 overall #119 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #149 of 465 cruiser bikes

90.5%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

2,737

median miles at test

264

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2024–2025

The SPORTSTER S's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.4 points since 2024, 93.4% to 91.0%.

What fails on a SPORTSTER S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	15	34.9
brakes	10	23.3
Identification of the vehicle	5	11.6
tyres	5	11.6
lighting and signalling	3	7
steering and suspension	2	4.7
body and structure	1	2.3
tyres and wheels	1	2.3
fuel and exhaust	1	2.3

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 S beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF).

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 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.7k 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 S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2022 (91.8% pass). Weakest: 2021 (91.3%).

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.