Harley Davidson Road King Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Harley Davidson Road King car check
Is the Harley Davidson Road King reliable? We analysed 1,442 real MOT tests across 148 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Harley Davidson Road King? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Harley Davidson Road King is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and direction indicator incorrect colour. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley Davidson Road King.
Harley Davidson Road King Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Harley Davidson Road King. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Harley Davidson Road King MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Harley Davidson Road King to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Harley Davidson Road King Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Harley Davidson Road King fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Harley Davidson Road King Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Harley Davidson Road King owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Harley Davidson Road King MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley Davidson Road King year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 66 | 92.4% | 12,867 | 19,397 | 25,754 |
| 2004 | 98 | 85.7% | 11,294 | 19,509 | 24,426 |
| 1998 | 51 | 84.3% | 25,880 | 46,256 | 56,384 |
| 1997 | 279 | 92.8% | 17,768 | 22,700 | 31,774 |
| 1996 | 236 | 93.2% | 10,740 | 27,760 | 40,811 |
| 1995 | 212 | 90.6% | 20,722 | 25,116 | 41,615 |
| 1994 | 139 | 90.6% | 22,628 | 29,307 | 35,576 |
How Long Does a Harley Davidson Road King Last?
Based on 148 Harley Davidson Road King vehicles on UK roads.
Harley Davidson Road King Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Harley Davidson Road King 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 Road King
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.2% MOT pass rate from 236 tests
84.3% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Road King is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.2% across 236 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.3% — 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 Road King Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Davidson Road King THIS CAR | 90.8% | 1,442 | 23,174 mi | 32 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 |
| Mercedes-benz E220 Spt CDI Blueefi-cy A | 75.1% | 916 | 78,317 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Harley Davidson Flstf (90.2% pass rate) and the Harley Davidson XL (89.1% pass rate), the Harley Davidson Road King outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Harley Davidson Road King 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 Road KingShould you buy a used Harley Davidson Road King?
The Harley Davidson Road King has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.8% across 1,442 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 Road King are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (9 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (6), and direction indicator incorrect colour (4). 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 Road King owner drives around 569 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 Road King models stay on UK roads for around 32 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.