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Harley Davidson 1200 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley Davidson 1200 car check

Is the Harley Davidson 1200 reliable? We analysed 5,578 real MOT tests across 782 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,578 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.5%
Typical Mileage
8,052mi
Annual Mileage
545mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
35yrs

The Harley Davidson 1200 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, reflector on motorcycle missing and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley Davidson 1200.

Harley Davidson 1200 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley Davidson 1200. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley Davidson 1200 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley Davidson 1200 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

94.8%
2017
91.2%
2016
90.3%
2015
91.2%
2014
91%
2013
84.5%
2008
81.1%
2007
82.4%
2006
83%
1999
93.8%
1997
83.9%
1996
81.7%
1995
83.2%
1994
81.7%
1993
84.3%
1992
84.4%
1991
81.6%
1990

Harley Davidson 1200 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Harley Davidson 1200 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 15
reflector on motorcycle missing 12
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 12

Harley Davidson 1200 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Harley Davidson 1200 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 21
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released 14

Harley Davidson 1200 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley Davidson 1200 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
177 mi/yr
Typical
545 mi/yr
Average
1,161 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,285 mi/yr

Harley Davidson 1200 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley Davidson 1200 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2017 115 94.8% 3,154 5,654 9,490
2016 713 91.2% 3,442 6,582 10,777
2015 1,063 90.3% 4,097 7,532 12,309
2014 1,795 91.2% 4,034 7,255 11,986
2013 368 91.0% 4,097 7,672 13,995
2008 84 84.5% 8,927 13,230 19,865
2007 53 81.1% 4,674 17,598 22,360
2006 68 82.4% 14,159 22,352 27,000
1999 53 83.0% 4,061 7,737 10,454
1997 64 93.8% 4,445 8,869 19,041
1996 161 83.9% 7,600 11,366 16,864
1995 93 81.7% 11,007 14,182 26,140
1994 101 83.2% 4,691 9,256 20,117
1993 60 81.7% 8,241 14,060 20,021
1992 70 84.3% 19,007 24,652 29,646
1991 122 84.4% 3,748 7,695 18,608
1990 87 81.6% 9,870 15,360 26,238

How Long Does a Harley Davidson 1200 Last?

Based on 782 Harley Davidson 1200 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.0 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
35 years

Harley Davidson 1200 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley Davidson 1200 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
8,052 mi
75th Percentile
14,235 mi
95th Percentile
29,174 mi
Max Recorded
126,902 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley Davidson 1200

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2017

94.8% MOT pass rate from 115 tests

Year to avoid
2007

81.1% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson 1200 is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.8% across 115 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Harley Davidson 1200 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley Davidson 1200 THIS CAR 89.5% 5,578 8,052 mi 35 yrs
Harley Davidson Flstf 90.2% 29,205 12,821 mi 36 yrs
Harley Davidson XL 89.1% 22,811 6,150 mi 13 yrs
Harley Davidson Flstc 90.4% 18,909 18,256 mi 37 yrs
Toyota Aygo X-play Vvt-i 95.5% 3,423 36,961 mi — yrs

Compared to the Harley Davidson Flstf (90.2% pass rate) and the Harley Davidson XL (89.1% pass rate), the Harley Davidson 1200 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley Davidson 1200?

The Harley Davidson 1200 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.5% across 5,578 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Harley Davidson 1200 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (15 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (12), and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (12). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Harley Davidson 1200 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Harley Davidson 1200 owner drives around 545 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Harley Davidson 1200 models stay on UK roads for around 35 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Harley Davidson 1200 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley Davidson 1200 reliable?
Based on 5,578 MOT tests, the Harley Davidson 1200 has a 89.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley Davidson 1200?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, reflector on motorcycle missing, and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley Davidson 1200 do per year?
The typical Harley Davidson 1200 does around 545 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley Davidson 1200 last?
Most Harley Davidson 1200 models stay on UK roads for around 35 years based on our analysis of 782 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley Davidson 1200?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Harley Davidson 1200?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley Davidson 1200 is 2017 with a 94.8% pass rate across 115 tests.