HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA V-ROD

1130cc Petrol Class 2

#1448 of 5426 overall #242 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #290 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.5%

first-time pass rate

5.5%

failed outright

5,556

median miles at test

901

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2024

The VRSCA V-ROD's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (89.6% → 90.0%).

What fails on a VRSCA V-ROD

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	35	35.4	0.7×
reg plates and vin	19	19.2	3.1×
brakes	14	14.1	0.3×
tyres and wheels	9	9.1	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	8	8.1	0.4×
tyres	4	4	0.5×
structure and attachments	3	3	0.5×
Identification of the vehicle	3	3	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	2	2	0.3×
audible warning (Horn)	2	2	1.2×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the VRSCA V-ROD beats 2 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 VRSCA V-ROD.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (92.0% pass). Weakest: 2006 (85.4%).

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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA V-ROD FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA V-ROD reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA V-ROD is more reliable than average for its class: 88.5% of its 901 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1448 of 5426 models.

What does a VRSCA V-ROD fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 35% of all defects recorded against failed VRSCA V-ROD tests.

What is the best year of VRSCA V-ROD to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (92.0%) and 2006 worst (85.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.