HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH

1000cc Petrol Class 2

#2835 of 5426 overall #383 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #445 of 465 cruiser bikes

83.6%

first-time pass rate

9.0%

failed outright

11,238

median miles at test

1,168

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XLH's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (80.3% → 80.0%).

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XLH passes first time 84.3% of the time; by 40k that's 87.5%.

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 XLH

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	53	21.9	0.7×
brakes	50	20.7	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	42	17.4	1.0×
steering and suspension	33	13.6	0.7×
reg plates and vin	17	7	2.4×
suspension	11	4.5	0.8×
tyres and wheels	11	4.5	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	10	4.1	0.9×
Identification of the vehicle	8	3.3	3.0×
structure and attachments	7	2.9	0.9×

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 XLH 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 XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 XLH.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (91.0% pass). Weakest: 1992 (78.3%).

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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH is about average for its class: 83.6% of its 1,168 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2835 of 5426 models.

What does a XLH fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 22% of all defects recorded against failed XLH tests.

What is the best year of XLH to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1990-registered examples do best (91.0%) and 1992 worst (78.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XLH last?

The median XLH shows 11,238 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 87.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.