HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER 12

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#545 of 5426 overall #80 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #103 of 465 cruiser bikes

91.6%

first-time pass rate

3.0%

failed outright

8,180

median miles at test

237

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a XL 1200 N NIGHTSTER 12

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	6	40
brakes	2	13.3
lighting and signalling	2	13.3
driving controls	1	6.7
tyres and wheels	1	6.7
reg plates and vin	1	6.7
steering and suspension	1	6.7
fuel and exhaust	1	6.7

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 N NIGHTSTER 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 N NIGHTSTER 12.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 2012 (90.7%).

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.