HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#278 of 5426 overall #41 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #53 of 465 cruiser bikes

93.1%

first-time pass rate

3.0%

failed outright

6,649

median miles at test

641

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2025

The XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11's first-time pass rate has risen 9.2 points since 2014, 88.2% to 97.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 passes first time 94.4% of the time; by 20k that's 89.7%.

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 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
tyres	5	16.1	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	5	16.1	0.4×
reg plates and vin	4	12.9	0.5×
brakes	4	12.9	0.1×
lighting and signalling	4	12.9	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	3	9.7	2.0×
structure and attachments	3	9.7	0.5×
tyres and wheels	2	6.5	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	1	3.2	0.2×

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 XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 beats 4 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 XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (93.4% pass). Weakest: 2011 (93.4%).

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 XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 is more reliable than average for its class: 93.1% of its 641 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #278 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 fail its MOT on most?

tyres — 16% of all defects recorded against failed XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 tests.

How many miles will a XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 last?

The median XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 11 shows 6,649 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 89.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.