Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi reliable?

Based on MOT data from 123 vehicles, the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi are: Exhaust noisy (162.3% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (37.3% of vehicles), Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (36.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Harley Davidson Flhrsi (2004)

123 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90% first-time pass rate

2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi

CarHunch analysed 123 real MOT records for the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2004 Harley-Davidson FLHRSI is a notably reliable machine by MOT standards, passing first time 90% of the time against a UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 13.8% of the cohort. This is a motorcycle that tends to be well-maintained by its owners.

These bikes typically show low mileage for their age—a median of 14,782 miles suggests they're cherished rather than commuted on hard—and when failures do occur, they're usually minor (1.27 per vehicle on average). If you're buying one, budget for routine advisory work like brake fluid checks and cable adjustments, but don't expect major structural or safety surprises.

We have limited data for the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

90%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

13.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.27

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 8k–22k

For context

These stats describe 123 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 123 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 162.3%

Exhaust noisy · Rear Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 37.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 34.7%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 14.4%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Headlamp aim too high

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 10.6%

Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height · Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 123 Harley Davidson Flhrsi cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi

Based on MOT data from 123 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

14,782

typical

7,984

low mileage

22,364

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi vehicles fall between 7,984 and 22,364 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,984 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 7,984–22,364 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsis sit.

⚠ Over 30,191 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 60% of 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsis are still active.

36 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 60% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.27

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Harley Davidson Flhrsi stacks up against a rival.

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