Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13?

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 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13?

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 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13?

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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13?

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 Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13 (2013)

180 real MOT outcomes analysed • 61.2% first-time pass rate

2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13

CarHunch analysed 180 real MOT records for the 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 2013 Forty Eight has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 61%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes need more frequent attention to stay compliant. The good news is that dangerous defects are uncommon at 6.7%, so while these machines demand maintenance, they're not skipping the line for safety-critical issues.

At an average mileage of 6,748 miles for an 11-year-old motorcycle, these are relatively gently used cruisers, yet they still accumulate an average of 0.53 failures and 2.5 advisories per test—meaning wear and corrosion are the real story here rather than abuse. If you're considering one, budget for regular upkeep of exhaust systems, brakes, and lights, and treat the MOT as a genuine annual maintenance checkpoint rather than a formality.

Below average reliability 18.8% below UK average

61.2%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

5,309

typical mileage

3,405–8,418 middle half

6.7%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

0.53

avg MOT failures per car

over 5.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	176	60.3%	0.55
Other (2%)	4	100%	0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

3,405

low mileage

5,309

typical

8,418

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13 vehicles fall between 3,405 and 8,418 miles.

2013 Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13 — Still on the Road

63 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.53

Avg failures per vehicle

2.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Harley Davidson Forty Eight XL 1200 X 13?

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