Harley-Davidson FLHR MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson FLHR motorcycles pass the MOT 92.06% of the time, measured across 554 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.15% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with does not conform to the specified requirements - it accounts for 47.6% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working and indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (9.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 28,915 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-10 years | 95.12% | 164 | |
| 11-15 years | 92% | 50 | |
| 16+ years | 90.53% | 338 |
Why the Harley-Davidson FLHR fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 47.6% | 10 | |
| 2 | Not working | 47.6% | 10 | |
| 3 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 33.3% | 7 | |
| 4 | Inoperative | 19% | 4 | |
| 5 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 19% | 4 | |
| 6 | Missing | 19% | 4 | |
| 7 | Incorrect | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 8 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 9 | Rough when rotated | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 10 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 14.3% | 3 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 9.4% | 52 | |
| 2 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 7.4% | 41 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 4.3% | 24 | |
| 4 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.6% | 20 | |
| 5 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 0.9% | 5 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 0.9% | 5 | |
| 7 | Excessively corroded | 0.5% | 3 | |
| 8 | Ferrule excessively corroded | 0.5% | 3 | |
| 9 | Has excessive play | 0.5% | 3 | |
| 10 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.5% | 3 |
Harley-Davidson FLHR for sale
No Harley-Davidson FLHR in stock at the moment - 48 other Harley-Davidson bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| BMW R1200 · 1,170cc | 9,521 | 94.43% | 28,830 | |
| BMW R1250 · 1,254cc | 6,764 | 96.17% | 17,373 | |
| BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc | 6,170 | 95.28% | 27,241 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 1200cc · 1196-1200cc | 5,527 | 91.62% | 8,342 | |
| Suzuki GSF1200 · 1,159cc | 4,061 | 84.68% | 29,337 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method