HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 NIGHTSTER

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#2196 of 5426 overall #357 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #411 of 465 cruiser bikes

86.0%

first-time pass rate

7.0%

failed outright

5,650

median miles at test

356

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2014

The XL 1200 NIGHTSTER's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2011 (86.5% → 86.7%).

What fails on a XL 1200 NIGHTSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	22	40.7
lamps and reflectors	7	13
Identification of the vehicle	5	9.3
brakes	5	9.3
structure and attachments	4	7.4
suspension	3	5.6
reg plates and vin	3	5.6
fuel and exhaust	2	3.7
body and structure	2	3.7
tyres	1	1.9

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 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 NIGHTSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (89.1% pass). Weakest: 2008 (78.5%).

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.