HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER

1200cc 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

8,290

median miles at test

2,753

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2025

The XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2010 (88.4% → 88.2%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER passes first time 87.6% of the time; by 40k that's 93.9%.

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 N NIGHTSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	65	24.1	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	48	17.8	0.9×
brakes	37	13.7	0.2×
steering and suspension	26	9.6	0.2×
reg plates and vin	19	7	1.0×
Identification of the vehicle	17	6.3	2.7×
structure and attachments	17	6.3	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	14	5.2	0.6×
tyres and wheels	14	5.2	0.2×
tyres	13	4.8	0.6×

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 N NIGHTSTER 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 N NIGHTSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (88.3% pass). Weakest: 2008 (86.3%).

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 N NIGHTSTER FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER is more reliable than average for its class: 86.9% of its 2,753 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1937 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 24% of all defects recorded against failed XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER tests.

What is the best year of XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (88.3%) and 2008 worst (86.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER last?

The median XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER shows 8,290 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 93.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.