Harley-Davidson Softail
Real ownership data from 14,166 UK Softail motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common Softail problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Chain and sprockets | major | 8.2% |
| Fuel system | major | 7.8% |
| Fluid leaks | prs | 7.3% |
| Lights and indicators | major | 6.5% |
| Frame and structure | major | 4.3% |
| Electrical | major | 3% |
| Steering and head bearings | major | 2.6% |
| Controls and cables | user entered | 1.7% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is brakes.
Softail mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| YearYear | MedianMedian mileage | Mi/yrMiles/year | MOT passFirst-time pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 703 mi | — | 100% |
| 2023 | 38 | 4,578 mi | 132 | 100% |
| 2022 | 90 | 4,208 mi | 876 | 90.78% |
| 2021 | 87 | 5,873 mi | 823 | 93.36% |
| 2020 | 39 | 6,364 mi | 1,055 | 92.68% |
| 2019 | 6 | 7,896 mi | 1,366 | 91.67% |
| 2018 | 9 | 5,520 mi | 594 | 96% |
| 2017 | 19 | 10,224 mi | 902 | 91.43% |
| 2016 | 209 | 10,610 mi | 794 | 90.87% |
| 2015 | 229 | 10,840 mi | 814 | 90.35% |
| 2014 | 218 | 11,793 mi | 808 | 91.51% |
| 2013 | 54 | 10,853 mi | 784 | 89.88% |
| 2012 | 88 | 10,728 mi | 802 | 89.68% |
| 2011 | 156 | 13,952 mi | 944 | 89.28% |
| 2010 | 260 | 12,180 mi | 704 | 89.3% |
| 2009 | 626 | 14,236 mi | 802 | 88.93% |
| 2008 | 789 | 14,209 mi | 808 | 88.25% |
| 2007 | 979 | 14,513 mi | 825 | 88.45% |
| 2006 | 1,094 | 14,832 mi | 774 | 89.5% |
| 2005 | 1,178 | 14,411 mi | 722 | 88.77% |
Softail questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Harley-Davidson Softail?
Across 14,166 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are chain and sprockets (8.2% of all recorded faults), fuel system (7.8% of all recorded faults), fluid leaks (7.3% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Harley-Davidson Softail?
The median Harley-Davidson Softail in the UK has covered 15,260 miles, and typically rides about 703 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 7,723 and 26,228 miles.
Is the Harley-Davidson Softail reliable?
89.06% of Harley-Davidson Softail MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 14,166 Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.