Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Harley-Davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which XL1200R Sportster 1200 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 88.8% average, from 3,317 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2005 (91.4% of 834 tests). Lowest: 2003 (85.7% of 231). Years more than two points below the model average: 2003.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (88.8%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 231 | 85.7% | -3.1 pp |
| 2004 | 1,038 | 88.3% | -0.5 pp |
| 2005 | 834 | 91.4% | +2.6 pp |
| 2006 | 574 | 87.8% | -1.0 pp |
| 2007 | 475 | 89.3% | +0.5 pp |
| 2008 | 128 | 87.5% | -1.3 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which XL1200R Sportster 1200 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 2003 registered examples pass first time less often than the Harley-Davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 overall (88.8%); the 2003 cohort is lowest at 85.7% from 231 tests.
- Which XL1200R Sportster 1200 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 2005, at 91.4% of 834 first tests (2005–2025).
- How much does the XL1200R Sportster 1200 pass rate vary by year?
- 5.7 percentage points between the highest (2005, 91.4%) and lowest (2003, 85.7%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Harley-Davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #1332 of 5428 models· other Harley-Davidson models: XLH 883, Flstf, Flstc, XL, XL1200C, XL883