Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight?

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 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight?

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 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight?

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 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight reliable?

Based on MOT data from 236 vehicles, the 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.4%, 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 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight?

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 X Forty Eight (2010)

236 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.4% first-time pass rate

2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight

CarHunch analysed 236 real MOT records for the 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2010 Forty Eight has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 56.7%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, which suggests these bikes require more attention to maintenance and repair than most vehicles on the road. Dangerous defects are relatively rare at 3.4%, so safety-critical issues aren't the main concern—it's the steady stream of smaller faults that stack up.

The median mileage of 5,713 miles is very low for a 14-year-old bike, indicating these are typically owned as weekend cruisers rather than daily riders, yet they still average 0.58 failures per test and 2.0 advisories, pointing to aging components and wear that sitting doesn't prevent. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the electrical system, fuel delivery, and exhaust—the most common culprits on older Harleys—and budget for remedial work before your first MOT.

We have limited data for the 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

90.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

3.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.58

Over 5.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 3k–9k

For context

These stats describe 236 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 236 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight cars.

Before you buy a 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight

Based on MOT data from 236 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.4% 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 (100%)	235	90.4%	0.58

Colour Breakdown

Based on 442 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 64.3%

284

Silver 17.4%

Orange 15.6%

White 1.6%

Blue 1.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight 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.

5,713

typical

3,196

low mileage

9,024

high mileage

Half of all 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight vehicles fall between 3,196 and 9,024 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 3,196 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.

✓ 3,196–9,024 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eights sit.

⚠ Over 12,182 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 51% of 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eights are still active.

61 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 51% 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

5.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.58

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight: All XL 1200 X Forty Eight years → Which year to buy? →

2011

Or browse all models: Harley Davidson →

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See how the 2010 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight stacks up against a rival.

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