Harley Davidson Forty Eight Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Harley Davidson Forty Eight car check
Is the Harley Davidson Forty Eight reliable? We analysed 2,922 real MOT tests across 421 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Harley Davidson Forty Eight? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Harley Davidson Forty Eight is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley Davidson Forty Eight.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Harley Davidson Forty Eight. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Harley Davidson Forty Eight to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Harley Davidson Forty Eight fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Harley Davidson Forty Eight models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Harley Davidson Forty Eight owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley Davidson Forty Eight year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 170 | 86.5% | 2,982 | 4,680 | 7,866 |
| 2014 | 2,183 | 90.2% | 3,253 | 5,402 | 8,920 |
| 2013 | 506 | 87.2% | 2,626 | 5,007 | 7,712 |
How Long Does a Harley Davidson Forty Eight Last?
Based on 421 Harley Davidson Forty Eight vehicles on UK roads.
Harley Davidson Forty Eight Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Harley Davidson Forty Eight MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Harley Davidson Forty Eight
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.2% MOT pass rate from 2,183 tests
86.5% MOT pass rate from 170 tests
The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Forty Eight is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.2% across 2,183 tests. The 2015 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.5% — 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 Forty Eight Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Davidson Forty Eight THIS CAR | 89.5% | 2,922 | 5,318 mi | 13 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 |
| Peugeot Partner 625 Profession L1 HDI | 86% | 1,567 | 102,742 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Harley Davidson Flstf (90.2% pass rate) and the Harley Davidson XL (89.1% pass rate), the Harley Davidson Forty Eight sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Harley Davidson Forty Eight you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Harley Davidson Forty EightShould you buy a used Harley Davidson Forty Eight?
The Harley Davidson Forty Eight has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.5% across 2,922 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is reflector on motorcycle missing with 6 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
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 Forty Eight 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 Forty Eight owner drives around 392 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 Forty Eight models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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.