HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL
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The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The XL's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.2 points since 2006, 89.7% to 87.5%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage XL passes first time 89.0% of the time; by 40k that's 82.3%.
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 XL
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lamps and reflectors |
|
727 | 40.2 | 1.7× |
| brakes |
|
209 | 11.6 | 0.2× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
207 | 11.4 | 4.7× |
| structure and attachments |
|
205 | 11.3 | 1.4× |
| suspension |
|
125 | 6.9 | 0.8× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
112 | 6.2 | 0.1× |
| tyres |
|
96 | 5.3 | 0.6× |
| steering |
|
57 | 3.2 | 0.6× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
49 | 2.7 | 0.3× |
| steering and suspension |
|
22 | 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
On first-time pass rate the XL beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).
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 XL.
Compare with any bike
More HARLEY-DAVIDSON models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2011 (93.5% pass). Weakest: 2005 (71.3%).
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.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL FAQ
Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL reliable?
The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL is more reliable than average for its class: 87.9% of its 18,541 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1639 of 5428 models.
What does a XL fail its MOT on most?
lamps and reflectors — 40% of all defects recorded against failed XL tests.
What is the best year of XL to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (93.5%) and 2005 worst (71.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a XL last?
The median XL shows 6,108 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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