Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Harley-Davidson Sportster: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which Sportster years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 84.6% average, from 10,175 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2001 (90.3% of 155 tests). Lowest: 1986 (71.7% of 92). Years more than two points below the model average: 1977, 1979, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2003.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (84.6%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 117 | 89.7% | +5.1 pp |
| 1977 | 63 | 74.6% | -10.0 pp |
| 1978 | 61 | 83.6% | -1.0 pp |
| 1979 | 76 | 81.6% | -3.0 pp |
| 1984 | 66 | 74.2% | -10.4 pp |
| 1985 | 58 | 87.9% | +3.3 pp |
| 1986 | 92 | 71.7% | -12.9 pp |
| 1987 | 128 | 78.9% | -5.7 pp |
| 1988 | 271 | 83.4% | -1.2 pp |
| 1989 | 533 | 78.4% | -6.2 pp |
| 1990 | 705 | 82.1% | -2.5 pp |
| 1991 | 783 | 82.9% | -1.7 pp |
| 1992 | 451 | 79.4% | -5.2 pp |
| 1993 | 534 | 86.0% | +1.4 pp |
| 1994 | 740 | 86.2% | +1.6 pp |
| 1995 | 614 | 86.0% | +1.4 pp |
| 1996 | 700 | 86.1% | +1.5 pp |
| 1997 | 550 | 85.8% | +1.2 pp |
| 1998 | 204 | 81.4% | -3.2 pp |
| 1999 | 83 | 88.0% | +3.4 pp |
| 2000 | 106 | 87.7% | +3.1 pp |
| 2001 | 155 | 90.3% | +5.7 pp |
| 2002 | 169 | 82.8% | -1.8 pp |
| 2003 | 141 | 80.9% | -3.7 pp |
| 2004 | 220 | 89.5% | +4.9 pp |
| 2005 | 526 | 89.7% | +5.1 pp |
| 2006 | 325 | 85.5% | +0.9 pp |
| 2007 | 258 | 87.6% | +3.0 pp |
| 2008 | 377 | 87.8% | +3.2 pp |
| 2009 | 320 | 87.8% | +3.2 pp |
| 2010 | 208 | 85.1% | +0.5 pp |
| 2011 | 203 | 83.3% | -1.3 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 Sportster years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1977, 1979, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2003 registered examples pass first time less often than the Harley-Davidson Sportster overall (84.6%); the 1986 cohort is lowest at 71.7% from 92 tests.
- Which Sportster year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 2001, at 90.3% of 155 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1971, 1985, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009.
- How much does the Sportster pass rate vary by year?
- 18.6 percentage points between the highest (2001, 90.3%) and lowest (1986, 71.7%) 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 Sportster reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #2595 of 5428 models· other Harley-Davidson models: XLH 883, Flstf, Flstc, XL, XL1200C, XL883