Harley-Davidson XLH1200 MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson XLH1200 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.09% of the time, measured across 333 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.31% 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 not working - it accounts for 54.5% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and missing, 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 (21.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 18,421 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 86.89% | 328 |
Why the Harley-Davidson XLH1200 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 | 54.5% | 12 | |
| 2 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 31.8% | 7 | |
| 3 | Missing | 22.7% | 5 | |
| 4 | Too low | 22.7% | 5 | |
| 5 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 18.2% | 4 | |
| 6 | Too high | 13.6% | 3 | |
| 7 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 13.6% | 3 | |
| 8 | Contaminated | 9.1% | 2 | |
| 9 | Control functioning such that safe operation of the motorcycle is adversely affected | 9.1% | 2 | |
| 10 | Has a serious fluid leak | 9.1% | 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 | 21.3% | 71 | |
| 2 | Has excessive play | 3.9% | 13 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.3% | 11 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.4% | 8 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.1% | 7 | |
| 6 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.1% | 7 | |
| 7 | Excessively binding | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 8 | Excessively loose | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 9 | Chain guard missing | 0.9% | 3 | |
| 10 | Excessively corroded | 0.6% | 2 |
Harley-Davidson XLH1200 for sale
No Harley-Davidson XLH1200 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