HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCD NIGHT ROD

1131cc Petrol Class 2

#1784 of 5426 overall #301 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #354 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.4%

first-time pass rate

6.2%

failed outright

9,270

median miles at test

438

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2013

The VRSCD NIGHT ROD's first-time pass rate has risen 12.1 points since 2009, 78.8% to 90.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VRSCD NIGHT ROD's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VRSCD NIGHT ROD passes first time 87.4% of the time; by 30k that's 83.9%.

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 VRSCD NIGHT ROD

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	16	25
lighting and signalling	11	17.2
reg plates and vin	8	12.5
brakes	8	12.5
Identification of the vehicle	6	9.4
tyres and wheels	5	7.8
structure and attachments	3	4.7
suspension	3	4.7
audible warning (Horn)	2	3.1
tyres	2	3.1

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 VRSCD NIGHT ROD 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 VRSCD NIGHT ROD.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (91.0% pass). Weakest: 2006 (84.7%).

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.