Harley Davidson Sportster Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Harley Davidson Sportster car check
Is the Harley Davidson Sportster reliable? We analysed 10,382 real MOT tests across 942 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Harley Davidson Sportster? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Harley Davidson Sportster 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley Davidson Sportster.
Harley Davidson Sportster Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Harley Davidson Sportster. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Harley Davidson Sportster MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Harley Davidson Sportster to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Harley Davidson Sportster Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Harley Davidson Sportster fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Harley Davidson Sportster Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Harley Davidson Sportster owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Harley Davidson Sportster MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley Davidson Sportster year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 149 | 80.5% | 4,559 | 7,851 | 14,962 |
| 2010 | 119 | 86.6% | 3,495 | 7,527 | 12,079 |
| 2009 | 320 | 90.0% | 3,970 | 7,832 | 13,775 |
| 2008 | 441 | 89.1% | 4,960 | 9,353 | 17,663 |
| 2007 | 270 | 89.6% | 3,125 | 7,838 | 15,237 |
| 2006 | 273 | 89.0% | 4,869 | 8,530 | 14,237 |
| 2005 | 571 | 90.4% | 4,347 | 9,388 | 15,996 |
| 2004 | 297 | 90.6% | 7,528 | 12,331 | 19,839 |
| 2003 | 138 | 84.8% | 4,752 | 12,520 | 22,707 |
| 2002 | 172 | 84.3% | 3,820 | 12,798 | 21,372 |
| 2001 | 152 | 92.1% | 7,843 | 10,786 | 14,976 |
| 2000 | 119 | 88.2% | 10,558 | 13,699 | 28,474 |
| 1999 | 87 | 88.5% | 10,447 | 14,149 | 26,256 |
| 1998 | 248 | 83.9% | 8,184 | 14,447 | 18,393 |
| 1997 | 595 | 86.4% | 8,261 | 14,188 | 22,982 |
| 1996 | 801 | 86.6% | 8,060 | 13,586 | 19,582 |
| 1995 | 742 | 87.5% | 7,880 | 14,075 | 22,517 |
| 1994 | 792 | 87.4% | 10,102 | 15,016 | 22,668 |
| 1993 | 593 | 87.7% | 6,640 | 13,778 | 25,400 |
| 1992 | 424 | 83.0% | 11,099 | 17,539 | 27,744 |
How Long Does a Harley Davidson Sportster Last?
Based on 942 Harley Davidson Sportster vehicles on UK roads.
Harley Davidson Sportster Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Harley Davidson Sportster 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 Sportster
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.1% MOT pass rate from 152 tests
79.4% MOT pass rate from 102 tests
The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Sportster is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.1% across 152 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.4% — 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 Sportster Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Davidson Sportster THIS CAR | 86.4% | 10,382 | 13,214 mi | 40 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 |
| Ford Fiesta Zetec Climate | 78% | 6,181 | 88,505 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Harley Davidson Flstf (90.2% pass rate) and the Harley Davidson XL (89.1% pass rate), the Harley Davidson Sportster trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Harley Davidson Sportster 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 SportsterShould you buy a used Harley Davidson Sportster?
The Harley Davidson Sportster has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.4% across 10,382 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 Sportster are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (88 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (59), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (56). 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 Sportster 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 Sportster models stay on UK roads for around 40 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.