Harley-Davidson XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT 17 MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT 17 motorcycles pass the MOT 86.39% of the time, measured across 360 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.78% 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 missing - it accounts for 76.2% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and too high, 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 (31.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 8,661 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 | 86.35% | 359 |
Why the Harley-Davidson XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT 17 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 | Missing | 76.2% | 16 | |
| 2 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 52.4% | 11 | |
| 3 | Too high | 28.6% | 6 | |
| 4 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 23.8% | 5 | |
| 5 | Insecure | 23.8% | 5 | |
| 6 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 7 | Inoperative | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 8 | Too low | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 9 | Incorrect | 9.5% | 2 | |
| 10 | Incorrect colour | 9.5% | 2 |
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 | 31.9% | 115 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 4.7% | 17 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.8% | 10 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.7% | 6 | |
| 5 | Chain guard missing | 1.1% | 4 | |
| 6 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.1% | 4 | |
| 7 | Inscription illegible | 0.8% | 3 | |
| 8 | Excessively binding | 0.6% | 2 | |
| 9 | Modified such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced | 0.6% | 2 | |
| 10 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 0.3% | 1 |
Harley-Davidson XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT 17 for sale
No Harley-Davidson XL 1200 X FORTY EIGHT 17 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