HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 17

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#330 of 5426 overall #51 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #67 of 465 cruiser bikes

92.8%

first-time pass rate

4.1%

failed outright

6,142

median miles at test

388

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2020–2025

The XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 17's first-time pass rate has risen 2.3 points since 2020, 91.7% to 94.0%.

What fails on a XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 17

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	16	47.1
steering	5	14.7
structure and attachments	5	14.7
Identification of the vehicle	4	11.8
brakes	3	8.8
suspension	1	2.9

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 XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 17 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 17.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2016 (93.4% pass). Weakest: 2017 (92.4%).

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.