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Harley-davidson 1200 Sport Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson 1200 Sport car check

Is the Harley-davidson 1200 Sport reliable? We analysed 3,482 real MOT tests across 285 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,482 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.6%
Typical Mileage
12,675mi
Annual Mileage
523mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Harley-davidson 1200 Sport is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, reflector on motorcycle missing and stop lamp remains on when the brake is released. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson 1200 Sport.

Harley-davidson 1200 Sport Number Plates

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

Harley-davidson 1200 Sport MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

89.5%
2005
90.6%
2002
87.3%
2001
86.3%
2000
89%
1999
89.1%
1998
83.9%
1997

Harley-davidson 1200 Sport Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 27
reflector on motorcycle missing 14
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 13
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 13
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 10
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 9
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 8
Headlamp aim too high 8
Headlamp aim too low 8
Direction indicators not working 7

Harley-davidson 1200 Sport Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
166 mi/yr
Typical
523 mi/yr
Average
1,236 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,273 mi/yr

Harley-davidson 1200 Sport MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 57 89.5% 3,095 4,374 8,265
2002 117 90.6% 9,264 13,525 23,986
2001 749 87.3% 5,899 11,592 20,182
2000 808 86.3% 6,891 11,868 18,484
1999 790 89.0% 8,300 12,583 18,780
1998 441 89.1% 9,257 14,117 22,034
1997 342 83.9% 12,124 15,319 24,988

How Long Does a Harley-davidson 1200 Sport Last?

Based on 285 Harley-davidson 1200 Sport vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.7 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Harley-davidson 1200 Sport Mileage Distribution

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

Median
12,675 mi
75th Percentile
19,703 mi
95th Percentile
37,808 mi
Max Recorded
747,352 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson 1200 Sport

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

Best year
2002

90.6% MOT pass rate from 117 tests

Year to avoid
1997

83.9% MOT pass rate from 342 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson 1200 Sport is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.6% across 117 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.9% — 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 Sport 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 Sport THIS CAR 87.6% 3,482 12,675 mi 29 yrs
Harley-davidson Xlh 883 88.8% 47,203 10,536 mi 38 yrs
Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport 89.4% 16,429 10,286 mi 29 yrs
Harley-davidson XL53 C 88.6% 15,043 11,058 mi 28 yrs
BMW 320D Xdrive M Sport MHEV Auto 88% 1,430 36,025 mi — yrs

Compared to the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 (88.8% pass rate) and the Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport (89.4% pass rate), the Harley-davidson 1200 Sport trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson 1200 Sport?

The Harley-davidson 1200 Sport has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.6% across 3,482 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 Sport are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (27 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (14), and stop lamp remains on when the brake is released (13). 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.

A typical Harley-davidson 1200 Sport owner drives around 523 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 Sport models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Sport — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson 1200 Sport reliable?
Based on 3,482 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson 1200 Sport has a 87.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson 1200 Sport?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, reflector on motorcycle missing, and stop lamp remains on when the brake is released. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson 1200 Sport do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson 1200 Sport does around 523 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson 1200 Sport last?
Most Harley-davidson 1200 Sport models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 285 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson 1200 Sport?
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 Sport?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson 1200 Sport is 2002 with a 90.6% pass rate across 117 tests.