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Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster car check

Is the Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster reliable? We analysed 3,269 real MOT tests across 330 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,269 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.4%
Typical Mileage
8,637mi
Annual Mileage
529mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
19yrs

The Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster.

Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.3%
2010
88.6%
2009
87.7%
2008
89.1%
2007

Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 12
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 10
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 9
wheel bearings have excessive free play 7
Headlamp aim too low 7
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7

Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
207 mi/yr
Typical
529 mi/yr
Average
1,034 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,268 mi/yr

Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 545 88.3% 4,063 7,588 13,409
2009 955 88.6% 4,788 8,347 14,201
2008 1,116 87.7% 4,904 9,488 14,551
2007 568 89.1% 4,876 8,673 14,382

How Long Does a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster Last?

Based on 330 Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.6 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
19 years

Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
8,637 mi
75th Percentile
14,382 mi
95th Percentile
28,619 mi
Max Recorded
426,380 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster

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

Best year
2007

89.1% MOT pass rate from 568 tests

Year to avoid
2008

87.7% MOT pass rate from 1,116 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.1% across 568 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.7% — 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 XL 1200 N Nightster Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster THIS CAR 88.4% 3,269 8,637 mi 19 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
Renault Sport 80.8% 1,888 21,478 mi 29 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 XL 1200 N Nightster trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster?

The Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.4% across 3,269 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 XL 1200 N Nightster are reflector on motorcycle missing (12 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (10), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (9). 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 XL 1200 N Nightster owner drives around 529 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 XL 1200 N Nightster models stay on UK roads for around 19 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 XL 1200 N Nightster — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster reliable?
Based on 3,269 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster has a 88.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster does around 529 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster last?
Most Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster models stay on UK roads for around 19 years based on our analysis of 330 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster?
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 XL 1200 N Nightster?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 N Nightster is 2007 with a 89.1% pass rate across 568 tests.