HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 NS IRON 1200 20

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#1047 of 5426 overall #165 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #200 of 465 cruiser bikes

89.7%

first-time pass rate

5.3%

failed outright

4,184

median miles at test

282

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2023–2025

The XL 1200 NS IRON 1200 20's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2023 (87.3% → 88.2%).

What fails on a XL 1200 NS IRON 1200 20

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	16	61.5
Identification of the vehicle	3	11.5
tyres	3	11.5
brakes	2	7.7
steering	1	3.8
structure and attachments	1	3.8

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 NS IRON 1200 20 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 NS IRON 1200 20.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2021 (93.4% pass). Weakest: 2020 (87.7%).

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.