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Harley-davidson XLH1000 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson XLH1000 car check

Is the Harley-davidson XLH1000 reliable? We analysed 1,233 real MOT tests across 227 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,233 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.3%
Typical Mileage
13,280mi
Annual Mileage
228mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
46yrs

The Harley-davidson XLH1000 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 wheel bearings have excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson XLH1000.

Harley-davidson XLH1000 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson XLH1000. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley-davidson XLH1000 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley-davidson XLH1000 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.5%
1991
92.9%
1990
87.1%
1984
90.2%
1982
80.2%
1981
88.4%
1980

Harley-davidson XLH1000 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Harley-davidson XLH1000 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 14
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 10
wheel bearings have excessive free play 10
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 9
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 8
Horn not working 8
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 8
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 6
Headlamp aim too high 6
Brake caliper(s) insecure 5

Harley-davidson XLH1000 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson XLH1000 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
66 mi/yr
Typical
228 mi/yr
Average
778 mi/yr
Heavy usage
669 mi/yr

Harley-davidson XLH1000 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson XLH1000 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1991 80 82.5% 4,583 17,214 20,338
1990 56 92.9% 3,359 16,487 17,527
1984 139 87.1% 1,242 6,852 14,262
1982 132 90.2% 9,634 23,260 41,183
1981 212 80.2% 2,914 11,156 28,694
1980 69 88.4% 955 25,392 72,160

How Long Does a Harley-davidson XLH1000 Last?

Based on 227 Harley-davidson XLH1000 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
27.7 years
Median
28.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
46 years

Harley-davidson XLH1000 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson XLH1000 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
13,280 mi
75th Percentile
26,278 mi
95th Percentile
66,105 mi
Max Recorded
471,410 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson XLH1000

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

Best year
1990

92.9% MOT pass rate from 56 tests

Year to avoid
1981

80.2% MOT pass rate from 212 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XLH1000 is 1990, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.9% across 56 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.2% — 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 XLH1000 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley-davidson XLH1000 THIS CAR 84.3% 1,233 13,280 mi 46 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
Vauxhall Vivaro 2700 Di SWB 64.6% 751 163,473 mi — 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 XLH1000 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson XLH1000?

The Harley-davidson XLH1000 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% across 1,233 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 XLH1000 are reflector on motorcycle missing (14 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (10), and wheel bearings have excessive free play (10). 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 XLH1000 owner drives around 228 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 XLH1000 models stay on UK roads for around 46 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 XLH1000 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson XLH1000 reliable?
Based on 1,233 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson XLH1000 has a 84.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson XLH1000?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and wheel bearings have excessive free play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson XLH1000 do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson XLH1000 does around 228 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson XLH1000 last?
Most Harley-davidson XLH1000 models stay on UK roads for around 46 years based on our analysis of 227 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson XLH1000?
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 XLH1000?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XLH1000 is 1990 with a 92.9% pass rate across 56 tests.