BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Harley-Davidson FXD/vs Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Harley-Davidson FXD vs Harley-Davidson Fxdwg

The Harley-Davidson FXD passes its MOT first time more often than the Harley-Davidson Fxdwg: 88.8% vs 88.7%, a 0.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Harley-Davidson FXD Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
First-time pass rate 88.8% 88.7%
Outright fail rate 5.4% 5.0%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +4.5 pts +4.2 pts
Engine size 1,450cc 1,450cc
Rank among all models #1332 of 5428 #1370 of 5428
Median miles at test 15,980 16,028
MOT tests analysed 10,695 14,585
Most common failure lighting and signalling 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 Harley-Davidson FXD Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
Lights & signalling 2.8% 2.5%
Brakes 1.4% 1.2%
Tyres & wheels 0.9% 1.1%
Steering & suspension 0.9% 0.8%
Fuel & exhaust 0.7% 0.6%
Structure & body 0.3% 0.3%
Drive system 0.1% 0.0%

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 Harley-Davidson FXD Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
2018 87.7% 87.6%
2019 89.5% 89.5%
2020 92.3% 90.7%
2021 89.1% 89.2%
2022 86.9% 87.2%
2023 86.5% 91.6%
2024 92.0% 88.4%
2025 88.0% 90.7%

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 Harley-Davidson FXD Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
0k-10k miles 89.2% 90.6%
10k-20k miles 90.0% 88.4%
20k-30k miles 88.6% 88.6%
30k-40k miles 86.5% 88.1%
40k-50k miles 88.6% 84.5%
50k-60k miles 88.6% 88.1%

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

Harley-Davidson FXD vs Harley-Davidson Fxdwg FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Harley-Davidson FXD or the Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?

The Harley-Davidson FXD passes its MOT first time more often than the Harley-Davidson Fxdwg: 88.8% vs 88.7%, a 0.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+4.5 vs +4.2 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 Harley-Davidson FXD fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.8% of Harley-Davidson FXD MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.4%).

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

Lights & signalling: 2.5% of Harley-Davidson Fxdwg MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Harley-Davidson FXD or the Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?

They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Harley-Davidson FXD passes 88.6% first time and the Harley-Davidson Fxdwg 88.1%.

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