Harley-Davidson FORTY EIGHT MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson FORTY EIGHT motorcycles pass the MOT 88.15% of the time, measured across 270 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.56% 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 70.6% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and remains on when the brakes are released, 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 (34.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 8,413 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 | 87.72% | 114 | |
| 11-15 years | 88.39% | 155 |
Why the Harley-Davidson FORTY EIGHT 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 | 70.6% | 12 | |
| 2 | Missing | 35.3% | 6 | |
| 3 | Remains on when the brakes are released | 35.3% | 6 | |
| 4 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 5 | Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 6 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 7 | Not working | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 8 | Too high | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 9 | Too low | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 10 | Attachment bracket/mounting insecure | 5.9% | 1 |
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 | 34.1% | 92 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 2.2% | 6 | |
| 3 | Chain guard missing | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 5 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 6 | Excessively corroded | 0.7% | 2 | |
| 7 | Inscription illegible | 0.7% | 2 | |
| 8 | Excessively damaged | 0.4% | 1 | |
| 9 | Has excessive play | 0.4% | 1 | |
| 10 | Has negligible damping effect | 0.4% | 1 |
Harley-Davidson FORTY EIGHT for sale
No Harley-Davidson FORTY EIGHT 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph TIGER · 969cc | 16,144 | 91.27% | 22,934 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc | 12,456 | 90.8% | 12,824 | |
| BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| BMW R1200 · 1,170cc | 9,521 | 94.43% | 28,830 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| BMW R1250 · 1,254cc | 6,764 | 96.17% | 17,373 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method