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Harley Davidson Flh Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley Davidson Flh car check

Is the Harley Davidson Flh reliable? We analysed 800 real MOT tests across 195 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 800 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.6%
Typical Mileage
18,438mi
Annual Mileage
603mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
45yrs

The Harley Davidson Flh is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley Davidson Flh.

Harley Davidson Flh Number Plates

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

Harley Davidson Flh MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

94.2%
1997
91.4%
1995
89.1%
1994
78.4%
1981

Harley Davidson Flh Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

reflector on motorcycle missing 4
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4
Headlamp aim too high 3
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 3
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2
Throttle operating incorrectly 2
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 2
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 2
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 2

Harley Davidson Flh Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
176 mi/yr
Typical
603 mi/yr
Average
1,359 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,699 mi/yr

Harley Davidson Flh MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 69 94.2% 18,111 24,196 32,804
1995 70 91.4% 18,237 34,716 49,062
1994 64 89.1% 16,662 28,901 60,444
1981 51 78.4% 1,195 3,965 9,190

How Long Does a Harley Davidson Flh Last?

Based on 195 Harley Davidson Flh vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.8 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
45 years

Harley Davidson Flh Mileage Distribution

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

Median
18,438 mi
75th Percentile
34,058 mi
95th Percentile
66,962 mi
Max Recorded
219,924 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley Davidson Flh

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

Best year
1997

94.2% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

Year to avoid
1981

78.4% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Flh is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.2% across 69 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.4% — 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 Flh Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley Davidson Flh THIS CAR 89.6% 800 18,438 mi 45 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
Honda Jazz Ex I-vtec 96.9% 604 47,754 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Harley Davidson Flh?

The Harley Davidson Flh has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.6% across 800 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 Flh are reflector on motorcycle missing (4 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4), and headlamp aim too high (3). 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 Flh owner drives around 603 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 Flh models stay on UK roads for around 45 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 Flh — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley Davidson Flh reliable?
Based on 800 MOT tests, the Harley Davidson Flh has a 89.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley Davidson Flh?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and headlamp aim too high. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley Davidson Flh do per year?
The typical Harley Davidson Flh does around 603 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley Davidson Flh last?
Most Harley Davidson Flh models stay on UK roads for around 45 years based on our analysis of 195 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley Davidson Flh?
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 Flh?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Flh is 1997 with a 94.2% pass rate across 69 tests.