HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200L

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#381 of 5426 overall #57 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #74 of 465 cruiser bikes

92.5%

first-time pass rate

3.8%

failed outright

11,102

median miles at test

265

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL1200L's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL1200L passes first time 94.9% of the time; by 20k that's 87.2%.

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 XL1200L

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	6	28.6
lighting and signalling	5	23.8
reg plates and vin	2	9.5
steering and suspension	2	9.5
brakes	2	9.5
suspension	1	4.8
fuel and exhaust	1	4.8
structure and attachments	1	4.8
Identification of the vehicle	1	4.8

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 XL1200L 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 XL1200L.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (96.6% pass). Weakest: 2008 (90.3%).

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.