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

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 Flstf?

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 Flstf?

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 Flstf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 201 vehicles, the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.7%, 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 Flstf?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf are: Exhaust noisy (195.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39.8% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.2% 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 Flstf?

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 Flstf (1998)

201 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.7% first-time pass rate

1998 Harley Davidson Flstf

CarHunch analysed 201 real MOT records for the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 1998 Harley-Davidson FLSTF passes its MOT first time in 88.2% of cases, which is a solid 8 points ahead of the UK average—a genuinely reassuring result for a 26-year-old cruiser. The dangerous defect rate of 10.4% is moderate and not a major red flag, though it's worth a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At 14,600 miles median, these bikes have been ridden relatively gently for their age, which explains the strong pass rate and why owners are only averaging 1.22 failures per test. With 3.5 advisories per vehicle, expect minor wear items (belts, cables, seals) to need attention over time—typical for air-cooled cruisers—so budget for incremental maintenance rather than surprise costs.

We have limited data for the 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf — 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

88.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.22

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 8k–22k

For context

These stats describe 201 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 201 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 195.6%

Exhaust noisy · Rear Exhaust noisy · Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition

Tyre wear 39.8%

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 12.7%

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear 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 12.2%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Rear reflector missing · Headlamp aim too low · …

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

Suspension & steering 4.9%

Front wheel bearings have slight free 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 201 Harley Davidson Flstf cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf

Based on MOT data from 201 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.5% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,627 Harley Davidson Flstf vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 47.7%

1,254

Red 12.1%

318

Blue 11.1%

292

Silver 9.6%

252

Orange 3.9%

102

White 3.5%

Purple 2.5%

Grey 2.4%

Yellow 2.2%

Green 1.9%

Maroon 1.7%

Turquoise 1.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf 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.

14,598

typical

7,710

low mileage

21,749

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Harley Davidson Flstf vehicles fall between 7,710 and 21,749 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,710 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.

✓ 7,710–21,749 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Harley Davidson Flstfs sit.

⚠ Over 29,361 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 Flstf — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Harley Davidson Flstfs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 79 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 85% of the peak.

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

1.22

Avg failures per vehicle

3.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Harley Davidson →

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