BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ducati Diavel/vs Harley-Davidson Flstf
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ducati Diavel vs Harley-Davidson Flstf

The Ducati Diavel passes its MOT first time more often than the Harley-Davidson Flstf: 90.3% vs 89.0%, a 1.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ducati Diavel Harley-Davidson Flstf
First-time pass rate 90.3% 89.0%
Outright fail rate 5.4% 4.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +2.8 pts +3.6 pts
Engine size 1,198cc 1,450cc
Rank among all models #854 of 5428 #1269 of 5428
Median miles at test 8,340 12,480
MOT tests analysed 8,740 30,148
Most common failure lamps and reflectors lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Ducati Diavel Harley-Davidson Flstf
Lights & signalling 1.8% 2.4%
Brakes 1.4% 1.0%
Steering & suspension 1.4% 0.6%
Tyres & wheels 1.0% 1.0%
Fuel & exhaust 0.1% 0.6%
Structure & body 0.4% 0.3%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Ducati Diavel Harley-Davidson Flstf
2018 89.7% 89.6%
2019 89.3% 88.6%
2020 92.0% 91.2%
2021 91.8% 90.4%
2022 91.7% 90.3%
2023 90.2% 89.7%
2024 90.7% 90.4%
2025 92.6% 91.8%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Ducati Diavel Harley-Davidson Flstf
0k-10k miles 91.7% 90.1%
10k-20k miles 88.8% 88.7%
20k-30k miles 85.9% 87.8%
30k-40k miles 87.8% 87.5%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Ducati Diavel vs Harley-Davidson Flstf FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ducati Diavel or the Harley-Davidson Flstf?

The Ducati Diavel passes its MOT first time more often than the Harley-Davidson Flstf: 90.3% vs 89.0%, a 1.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+2.8 vs +3.6 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Ducati Diavel fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.8% of Ducati Diavel MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.4%).

What does the Harley-Davidson Flstf fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.4% of Harley-Davidson Flstf MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Ducati Diavel or the Harley-Davidson Flstf?

They are level: at 30k-40k miles the Ducati Diavel passes 87.8% first time and the Harley-Davidson Flstf 87.5%.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.