Harley-Davidson FLSTF MOT pass rate and common failures

Harley-Davidson FLSTF motorcycles pass the MOT 91.52% of the time, measured across 1,568 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.02% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 4.6 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 91.52% 1,435 of 1,568
Fixed at the station 4.02% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 20,653 miles
Average age at test 20.38 years old
Engine 1,507cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Harley-Davidson FLSTF adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with not working - it accounts for 52.9% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and does not conform to the specified requirements, 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 (22.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 20,653 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 93.84% 146
11-15 years 90.53% 190
16+ years 91.39% 1,231

Why the Harley-Davidson FLSTF 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 Not working 52.9% 37
2 Missing 32.9% 23
3 Does not conform to the specified requirements 30% 21
4 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 20% 14
5 Remains on when the brakes are released 12.9% 9
6 Less than 1.0 mm thick 11.4% 8
7 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 10% 7
8 Insecure 8.6% 6
9 Too high 8.6% 6
10 Incorrect 7.1% 5

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 22.7% 356
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 5% 79
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 3.7% 58
4 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.8% 28
5 Tread not clearly visible 1.4% 22
6 Has excessive play 0.8% 12
7 Excessively binding 0.6% 9
8 Excessively corroded 0.5% 8
9 Excessively loose 0.5% 8
10 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 0.3% 5

Harley-Davidson FLSTF for sale

No Harley-Davidson FLSTF 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

Harley-Davidson FLSTF MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley-Davidson FLSTF?+
91.52% of Harley-Davidson FLSTF MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,568 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Harley-Davidson FLSTF?+
Not working, which appears in 52.9% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Harley-Davidson FLSTF get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 16+ years old the pass rate is 91.39%, against 93.84% for examples 6-10 years old.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
Top