Harley-Davidson V-Rod
Real ownership data from 5,370 UK V-Rod motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common V-Rod problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Other | prs | 3.1% |
| Brakes | dangerous | 2.2% |
| Suspension | major | 0.8% |
| Brake discs and pads | dangerous | 0.8% |
| Controls and cables | dangerous | 0.8% |
| Steering and head bearings | dangerous | 0.6% |
| Lights and indicators | dangerous | 3.3% |
| Exhaust and emissions | major | 0.6% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is wheels.
V-Rod mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 13 | 3,903 mi | 436 | 88.37% |
| 2017 | 85 | 5,033 mi | 352 | 89.68% |
| 2016 | 218 | 5,702 mi | 441 | 89.49% |
| 2015 | 197 | 6,640 mi | 567 | 88.31% |
| 2014 | 235 | 7,744 mi | 643 | 88.12% |
| 2013 | 178 | 8,381 mi | 600 | 87.53% |
| 2012 | 125 | 8,055 mi | 610 | 87.65% |
| 2011 | 178 | 9,971 mi | 757 | 90.5% |
| 2010 | 258 | 9,480 mi | 667 | 90.04% |
| 2009 | 364 | 9,348 mi | 626 | 87.31% |
| 2008 | 379 | 9,431 mi | 559 | 89.04% |
| 2007 | 663 | 8,512 mi | 622 | 87.29% |
| 2006 | 520 | 9,511 mi | 550 | 88.11% |
| 2005 | 480 | 8,410 mi | 564 | 87.53% |
| 2004 | 367 | 8,817 mi | 499 | 88% |
| 2003 | 609 | 8,035 mi | 382 | 89.34% |
| 2002 | 491 | 9,406 mi | 416 | 89.25% |
| 2001 | 5 | 14,645 mi | 672 | 88.24% |
V-Rod questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Harley-Davidson V-Rod?
Across 5,370 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are other (3.1% of all recorded faults), brakes (2.2% of all recorded faults), suspension (0.8% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Harley-Davidson V-Rod?
The median Harley-Davidson V-Rod in the UK has covered 8,408 miles, and typically rides about 514 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 4,121 and 15,123 miles.
Is the Harley-Davidson V-Rod reliable?
88.49% of Harley-Davidson V-Rod MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.55 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 5,370 Harley-Davidson V-Rod motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.