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Harley Davidson Trike Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley Davidson Trike car check

Is the Harley Davidson Trike reliable? We analysed 1,275 real MOT tests across 101 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,275 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.6%
Typical Mileage
14,498mi
Annual Mileage
508mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Harley Davidson Trike is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include position lamp(s) not working, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley Davidson Trike.

Harley Davidson Trike Number Plates

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

Harley Davidson Trike MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

95.2%
2009
94%
2007
87.8%
2006
88.8%
2005
94.1%
2004
92.9%
2000
89.4%
1997
90.6%
1996
83.9%
1989
85.1%
1987

Harley Davidson Trike Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

position lamp(s) not working 6
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 5
Stop lamp not working 4
position lamp(s) missing 4
Direction indicator not working 4
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3
reflector missing 3

Harley Davidson Trike Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Harley Davidson Trike models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value 4
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value 4

Harley Davidson Trike Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
153 mi/yr
Typical
508 mi/yr
Average
1,130 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,093 mi/yr

Harley Davidson Trike MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 62 95.2% 7,341 12,362 21,113
2007 117 94.0% 3,847 13,358 19,994
2006 188 87.8% 3,610 10,452 16,744
2005 80 88.8% 5,875 11,695 17,615
2004 68 94.1% 5,065 9,984 15,402
2000 70 92.9% 11,266 15,346 19,036
1997 104 89.4% 16,008 21,124 47,798
1996 106 90.6% 13,561 26,337 34,394
1989 56 83.9% 6,856 14,180 15,936
1987 74 85.1% 26,046 30,750 35,642

How Long Does a Harley Davidson Trike Last?

Based on 101 Harley Davidson Trike vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.0 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Harley Davidson Trike Mileage Distribution

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

Median
14,498 mi
75th Percentile
23,170 mi
95th Percentile
47,223 mi
Max Recorded
411,250 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley Davidson Trike

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

Best year
2009

95.2% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
1989

83.9% MOT pass rate from 56 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Trike is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.2% across 62 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.9% — 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 Trike Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley Davidson Trike THIS CAR 89.6% 1,275 14,498 mi 39 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
Cpi Hussar Jr 50 73.1% 527 9,299 mi 23 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Harley Davidson Trike?

The Harley Davidson Trike has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.6% across 1,275 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 Trike are position lamp(s) not working (6 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (5), and stop lamp not working (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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Harley Davidson Trike 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 Trike owner drives around 508 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 Trike models stay on UK roads for around 39 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 Trike — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley Davidson Trike reliable?
Based on 1,275 MOT tests, the Harley Davidson Trike has a 89.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley Davidson Trike?
The most common MOT failures are position lamp(s) not working, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley Davidson Trike do per year?
The typical Harley Davidson Trike does around 508 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley Davidson Trike last?
Most Harley Davidson Trike models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 101 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley Davidson Trike?
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 Trike?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley Davidson Trike is 2009 with a 95.2% pass rate across 62 tests.