HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#1693 of 5426 overall #287 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #340 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.7%

first-time pass rate

4.4%

failed outright

6,099

median miles at test

2,044

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT's first-time pass rate has risen 2.1 points since 2013, 87.9% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT passes first time 88.2% of the time; by 20k that's 81.8%.

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 X FORTY EIGHT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	36	21.4	0.7×
reg plates and vin	35	20.8	2.1×
lighting and signalling	33	19.6	0.2×
Identification of the vehicle	15	8.9	3.2×
brakes	13	7.7	0.2×
structure and attachments	10	6	0.6×
suspension	9	5.4	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	6	3.6	0.4×
tyres and wheels	6	3.6	0.1×
tyres	5	3	0.4×

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 X FORTY EIGHT beats 1 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 X FORTY EIGHT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (88.2% pass). Weakest: 2010 (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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT is more reliable than average for its class: 87.7% of its 2,044 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1693 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 21% of all defects recorded against failed XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT tests.

How many miles will a XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT last?

The median XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT shows 6,099 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 81.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.