HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER S 22

1252cc Petrol Class 2

93.6%

first-time pass rate

2.9%

failed outright

2,522

median miles at test

140

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a SPORTSTER S 22

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Share of defects	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors		10	83.3
Identification of the vehicle		2	16.7

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 22 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 22.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2022 (93.5% pass). Weakest: 2022 (93.5%).

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.