HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#1854 of 5426 overall #318 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #372 of 465 cruiser bikes

87.2%

first-time pass rate

6.5%

failed outright

12,348

median miles at test

2,219

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The XL1200's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.9 points since 2006, 85.5% to 77.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL1200's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL1200 passes first time 88.7% of the time; by 40k that's 85.4%.

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 XL1200

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	97	31.1	0.7×
brakes	60	19.2	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	40	12.8	0.8×
steering and suspension	32	10.3	0.4×
reg plates and vin	22	7.1	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	20	6.4	1.1×
tyres and wheels	19	6.1	0.4×
Identification of the vehicle	9	2.9	1.8×
structure and attachments	7	2.2	0.4×
driving controls	6	1.9	1.2×

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 XL1200 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 XL1200.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (94.1% pass). Weakest: 1991 (78.7%).

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 XL1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.2% of its 2,219 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1854 of 5426 models.

What does a XL1200 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed XL1200 tests.

What is the best year of XL1200 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (94.1%) and 1991 worst (78.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL1200 last?

The median XL1200 shows 12,348 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 85.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.