Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster?

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 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster?

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 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster?

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 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster reliable?

Based on MOT data from 130 vehicles, the 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster has a first-time MOT pass rate of 93.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster?

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 XL 1200 Low Sportster (2006)

130 real MOT outcomes analysed • 93.4% first-time pass rate

2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster

CarHunch analysed 130 real MOT records for the 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

This 2006 Harley-Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster is about as reliable as the average UK vehicle, with an 80.5% first-time MOT pass rate that matches the national benchmark, and only 5.4% of machines ever recorded a dangerous defect—well below concern territory. The real story is in the advisories: owners are flagged an average of 3.3 minor issues per test, which suggests wear-and-tear accumulation is normal for bikes of this age.

At a median mileage of 8,651 miles, these Sportsters are relatively lightly ridden for their 18 years, yet still average 0.76 failures per vehicle, pointing to age-related deterioration rather than abuse. If you're considering one, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection of fuel system components and electrical connectors, where most advisories cluster on machines this old.

We have limited data for the 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

93.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

5.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.76

Over 10.2 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 5k–13k

For context

These stats describe 130 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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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 130 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster

Based on MOT data from 130 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5.4% 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 (96%)	125	93.3%	0.78

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster 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.

8,651

typical

5,040

low mileage

13,129

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster vehicles fall between 5,040 and 13,129 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,040 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.

✓ 5,040–13,129 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportsters sit.

⚠ Over 17,724 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster — Still on the Road

Most 2006 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportsters are still being driven.

55 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 72% 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

10.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.76

Avg failures per vehicle

3.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Harley Davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster: All XL 1200 Low Sportster years → Which year to buy? →

2007

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