HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#172 of 5426 overall #25 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #31 of 465 cruiser bikes

94.0%

first-time pass rate

2.5%

failed outright

7,049

median miles at test

714

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2025

The XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12's first-time pass rate has risen 10.7 points since 2015, 87.3% to 98.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 passes first time 93.9% of the time; by 20k that's 91.9%.

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 XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	7	22.6	0.4×
brakes	5	16.1	0.1×
reg plates and vin	4	12.9	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	4	12.9	0.6×
wheels	3	9.7	4.7×
tyres and wheels	3	9.7	0.2×
steering and suspension	2	6.5	0.1×
structure and attachments	1	3.2	0.2×
tyres	1	3.2	0.2×
lighting and signalling	1	3.2	—

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 12 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 12.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (95.1% pass). Weakest: 2012 (93.3%).

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 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 is more reliable than average for its class: 94.0% of its 714 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #172 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 23% of all defects recorded against failed XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 tests.

How many miles will a XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 last?

The median XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 12 shows 7,049 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 91.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.