Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 car check
Is the Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 reliable? We analysed 3,903 real MOT tests across 313 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200.
Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 172 | 88.4% | 5,648 | 7,598 | 15,932 |
| 2007 | 548 | 90.3% | 6,862 | 13,745 | 20,749 |
| 2006 | 684 | 89.3% | 5,876 | 9,666 | 16,160 |
| 2005 | 916 | 92.1% | 6,789 | 10,563 | 17,482 |
| 2004 | 1,203 | 89.2% | 7,626 | 13,378 | 21,916 |
| 2003 | 252 | 88.5% | 7,788 | 12,154 | 19,445 |
How Long Does a Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 Last?
Based on 313 Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 vehicles on UK roads.
Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.1% MOT pass rate from 916 tests
88.4% MOT pass rate from 172 tests
The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.1% across 916 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.4% — 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 THIS CAR | 89.8% | 3,903 | 11,675 mi | 23 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 |
| Honda CM125C | 74.2% | 3,993 | 25,633 mi | 44 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
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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 XL1200R Sportster 1200Should you buy a used Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200?
The Harley-davidson XL1200R Sportster 1200 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.8% across 3,903 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (25 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (12), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (12). 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200 owner drives around 603 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 XL1200R Sportster 1200 models stay on UK roads for around 23 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.