HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 18

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#1937 of 5426 overall #337 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #391 of 465 cruiser bikes

86.9%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

5,372

median miles at test

268

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 18's first-time pass rate has risen 11.7 points since 2021, 83.9% to 95.6%.

What fails on a XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 18

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	11	40.7
tyres	4	14.8
brakes	4	14.8
structure and attachments	3	11.1
steering	2	7.4
Identification of the vehicle	2	7.4
suspension	1	3.7

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 18 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 XL 1200 C CUSTOM SPORTSTER 18.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (86.2% pass). Weakest: 2018 (86.2%).

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.