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

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 Fxdwg?

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 Fxdwg?

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 Fxdwg reliable?

Based on MOT data from 107 vehicles, the 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.2%, 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 Fxdwg?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg are: Exhaust noisy (142.3% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (30.8% 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 Fxdwg?

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 Fxdwg (1998)

107 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg

CarHunch analysed 107 real MOT records for the 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1998 Harley-Davidson FXDWG has an 81% first-time pass rate, marginally ahead of the UK average at 80%, and only 9.3% have ever recorded a dangerous defect—well below the threshold that would worry buyers. This is a genuinely reliable machine by MOT standards, with no concerning pass rate red flags.

At nearly 20,000 miles on average, these bikes are moderately used for their age, and the 1.05 average failures per test suggest owners are maintaining them reasonably well between inspections. The 4.0 advisories per vehicle is the real story: these are aging Harleys with typical wear items flagged regularly, so expect to budget for consumables like tyres, brake pads, and exhaust work on any used example you consider.

We have limited data for the 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg — 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

92.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

9.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.05

Over 11.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

16k

Middle half: 10k–25k

For context

These stats describe 107 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 107 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 142.3%

Exhaust noisy · Rear Exhaust noisy · Offside Rear Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 34.6%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 24%

Front wheel bearings have slight free play · Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · …

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

Lighting 20.2%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Front Wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim. · Rear reflector missing

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

Brake wear 12.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · 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.

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 107 Harley Davidson Fxdwg cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg

Based on MOT data from 107 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.4% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	106	92.4%	1.05

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg 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.

15,947

typical

9,576

low mileage

24,995

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwg vehicles fall between 9,576 and 24,995 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,576 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.

✓ 9,576–24,995 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwgs sit.

⚠ Over 33,743 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 Fxdwg — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 65% of 1998 Harley Davidson Fxdwgs are still active.

36 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% 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

11.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.05

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Harley Davidson →

Compare with another model

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

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