Harley-davidson Sportster S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Harley-davidson Sportster S car check
Is the Harley-davidson Sportster S reliable? We analysed 462 real MOT tests across 271 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Harley-davidson Sportster S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Harley-davidson Sportster S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson Sportster S.
Harley-davidson Sportster S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson Sportster S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Harley-davidson Sportster S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Harley-davidson Sportster S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Harley-davidson Sportster S Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Harley-davidson Sportster S models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Harley-davidson Sportster S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson Sportster S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Harley-davidson Sportster S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson Sportster S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 200 | 93.0% | 1,504 | 3,018 | 5,408 |
| 2021 | 208 | 91.8% | 1,614 | 2,990 | 4,912 |
How Long Does a Harley-davidson Sportster S Last?
Based on 271 Harley-davidson Sportster S vehicles on UK roads.
Harley-davidson Sportster S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson Sportster S 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 S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.0% MOT pass rate from 200 tests
91.8% MOT pass rate from 208 tests
The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson Sportster S is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.0% across 200 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 91.8% — 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 S 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 S THIS CAR | 90.9% | 462 | 3,252 mi | — 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 |
| Sunbeam Talbot 90 | 83.1% | 708 | 55,528 mi | 75 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 Sportster S outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Harley-davidson Sportster S 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 Sportster SShould you buy a used Harley-davidson Sportster S?
The Harley-davidson Sportster S has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.9% across 462 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 Sportster S 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 Sportster S owner drives around 668 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.
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.