Harley-Davidson PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL motorcycles pass the MOT 95.69% of the time, measured across 325 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.54% 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 too high - it accounts for 33.3% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check has a serious fluid leak and not working, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is excessively loose (2.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 8,175 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 95.69% | 325 |
Why the Harley-Davidson PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL 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 | Too high | 33.3% | 3 | |
| 2 | Has a serious fluid leak | 22.2% | 2 | |
| 3 | Not working | 22.2% | 2 | |
| 4 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 11.1% | 1 | |
| 5 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 11.1% | 1 | |
| 6 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 11.1% | 1 | |
| 7 | Fractured | 11.1% | 1 | |
| 8 | Incorrect | 11.1% | 1 | |
| 9 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 11.1% | 1 | |
| 10 | Missing | 11.1% | 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 | Excessively loose | 2.8% | 9 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.5% | 8 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 2.5% | 8 | |
| 4 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 2.5% | 8 | |
| 5 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.2% | 7 | |
| 6 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.9% | 3 | |
| 7 | Worn to excess | 0.9% | 3 | |
| 8 | Sprocket worn to excess | 0.6% | 2 | |
| 9 | Component pin or bush excessively worn | 0.3% | 1 | |
| 10 | Excessively binding | 0.3% | 1 |
Harley-Davidson PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL for sale
No Harley-Davidson PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL 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 | |
| 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 | |
| BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc | 6,170 | 95.28% | 27,241 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method