Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200
Real ownership data from 14,805 UK Sportster 1200 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common Sportster 1200 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | minor | 12.6% |
| Steering and head bearings | major | 10.5% |
| Lights and indicators | major | 7.6% |
| Frame and structure | dangerous | 7.6% |
| Fuel system | fail | 4.3% |
| Other | major | 3.6% |
| Corrosion | fail | 3.6% |
| Fluid leaks | user entered | 2.2% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is exhaust and emissions.
Sportster 1200 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | 4,255 mi | 643 | 89.57% |
| 2020 | 497 | 4,198 mi | 568 | 90.65% |
| 2019 | 847 | 5,586 mi | 614 | 90.53% |
| 2018 | 904 | 6,356 mi | 643 | 89.46% |
| 2017 | 819 | 7,442 mi | 626 | 90.19% |
| 2016 | 814 | 7,618 mi | 645 | 88.41% |
| 2015 | 643 | 7,226 mi | 574 | 89.56% |
| 2014 | 270 | 8,926 mi | 632 | 90.76% |
| 2013 | 462 | 7,724 mi | 516 | 89.49% |
| 2012 | 537 | 8,664 mi | 570 | 90.01% |
| 2011 | 697 | 9,046 mi | 551 | 90.43% |
| 2010 | 558 | 9,127 mi | 594 | 87.96% |
| 2009 | 559 | 11,809 mi | 675 | 89.78% |
| 2008 | 740 | 11,342 mi | 555 | 87.49% |
| 2007 | 725 | 12,222 mi | 660 | 89.78% |
| 2006 | 675 | 13,369 mi | 668 | 89.97% |
| 2005 | 588 | 13,300 mi | 694 | 89.46% |
| 2004 | 729 | 14,072 mi | 646 | 88.87% |
| 2003 | 469 | 11,696 mi | 526 | 87.78% |
| 2002 | 308 | 12,186 mi | 581 | 87.36% |
Sportster 1200 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200?
Across 14,805 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are electrical (12.6% of all recorded faults), steering and head bearings (10.5% of all recorded faults), lights and indicators (7.6% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200?
The median Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 in the UK has covered 9,658 miles, and typically rides about 570 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 4,915 and 17,145 miles.
Is the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 reliable?
88.21% of Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 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 14,805 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.