HARLEY-DAVIDSON XR 1200 X SPORTSTER

1202cc Petrol Class 2

#1269 of 5426 overall #204 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #246 of 465 cruiser bikes

89.0%

first-time pass rate

5.4%

failed outright

9,053

median miles at test

410

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2023

The XR 1200 X SPORTSTER's first-time pass rate has risen 1.7 points since 2013, 85.0% to 86.7%.

What fails on a XR 1200 X SPORTSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
tyres and wheels	8	27.6
lighting and signalling	6	20.7
lamps and reflectors	5	17.2
brakes	3	10.3
structure and attachments	2	6.9
suspension	1	3.4
tyres	1	3.4
steering	1	3.4
drive system	1	3.4
fuel and exhaust	1	3.4

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 XR 1200 X SPORTSTER beats 3 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 XR 1200 X SPORTSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (89.6% pass). Weakest: 2011 (87.1%).

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.