HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#1478 of 5426 overall #247 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #295 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.4%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

9,978

median miles at test

15.7k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The XL1200C's first-time pass rate has risen 2.0 points since 2005, 86.9% to 88.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL1200C's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL1200C passes first time 89.9% of the time; by 50k that's 82.7%.

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 XL1200C

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	374	24.3	0.4×
brakes	252	16.4	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	234	15.2	0.6×
reg plates and vin	176	11.4	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	128	8.3	1.0×
tyres and wheels	121	7.9	0.4×
steering and suspension	77	5	0.1×
tyres	72	4.7	0.6×
Identification of the vehicle	55	3.6	1.5×
suspension	49	3.2	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 XL1200C beats 2 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 XL1200C.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (91.9% pass). Weakest: 1994 (79.2%).

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 XL1200C FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C is more reliable than average for its class: 88.4% of its 15,734 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1478 of 5426 models.

What does a XL1200C fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 24% of all defects recorded against failed XL1200C tests.

What is the best year of XL1200C to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (91.9%) and 1994 worst (79.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL1200C last?

The median XL1200C shows 9,978 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.