HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 1200 XS FORTY EIGHT SP 18

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#959 of 5426 overall #147 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #181 of 465 cruiser bikes

90.0%

first-time pass rate

3.8%

failed outright

4,049

median miles at test

399

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The XL 1200 XS FORTY EIGHT SP 18's first-time pass rate has risen 9.4 points since 2021, 86.1% to 95.5%.

What fails on a XL 1200 XS FORTY EIGHT SP 18

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	10	41.7
structure and attachments	5	20.8
Identification of the vehicle	4	16.7
suspension	2	8.3
tyres	2	8.3
brakes	1	4.2

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 XS FORTY EIGHT SP 18 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 XS FORTY EIGHT SP 18.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2019 (91.1% pass). Weakest: 2018 (89.6%).

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.