Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc?

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 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc?

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 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc?

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 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc reliable?

Based on MOT data from 141 vehicles, the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc are: Exhaust noisy (167.8% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42.7% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (26.9% 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 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc?

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 Flstc (1998)

141 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Harley Davidson Flstc

CarHunch analysed 141 real MOT records for the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc. 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 1998 Harley Davidson FLSTC passes its MOT at 91.2%, well above the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are rare at just 9.2% of the fleet—this is a reliably maintained bike in the hands of its typical owner. However, the median Carhunch score of 50 is middling, reflecting that while serious faults are uncommon, advisory items average 3.6 per test, suggesting wear and minor upkeep is persistent.

The median mileage of just 16,541 miles for a 26-year-old machine indicates these are cherished cruisers, not daily riders, which partly explains the strong pass rate. If you're considering one, expect to budget for routine advisory work—oil leaks, worn controls, and light corrosion—but the underlying mechanicals have proven solid across this cohort; get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the clutch, transmission, and brake condition to identify any neglected items.

We have limited data for the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

91.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

9.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.01

Over 11.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 9k–27k

For context

These stats describe 141 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 141 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 167.8%

Exhaust noisy · Rear Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 42.7%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm

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

Brake wear 21.9%

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

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

Lighting 8.2%

Headlamp aim too low · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing

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

Suspension & steering 5%

Front wheel bearings have slight free play · Front Wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 141 Harley Davidson Flstc cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc

Based on MOT data from 141 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.2% 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 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc 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.

16,541

typical

9,419

low mileage

27,433

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc vehicles fall between 9,419 and 27,433 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,419 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.

✓ 9,419–27,433 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Harley Davidson Flstcs sit.

⚠ Over 37,034 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Harley Davidson Flstc — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Harley Davidson Flstcs are still being driven.

56 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 74% 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

11.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.01

Avg failures per vehicle

3.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Harley Davidson Flstc: All Flstc years → Which year to buy? →

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2007 2009 2015 2016

Or browse all models: Harley Davidson →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstc stacks up against a rival.

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