HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#243 of 5426 overall #35 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #45 of 465 cruiser bikes

93.4%

first-time pass rate

4.2%

failed outright

5,706

median miles at test

530

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2020–2025

The XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.0 points since 2020, 97.6% to 93.6%.

What fails on a XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	13	31	1.3×
tyres	11	26.2	2.2×
suspension	5	11.9	1.0×
steering	4	9.5	1.4×
brakes	3	7.1	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	2	4.8	1.6×
lighting and signalling	2	4.8	—
steering and suspension	1	2.4	0.1×
structure and attachments	1	2.4	0.3×

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 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 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 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2016 (95.0% pass). Weakest: 2017 (92.9%).

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 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 is more reliable than average for its class: 93.4% of its 530 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #243 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 31% of all defects recorded against failed XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 tests.

What is the best year of XL 1200 T SUPERLOW SPORTSTER17 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2016-registered examples do best (95.0%) and 2017 worst (92.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.