Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight reliable?

Based on MOT data from 208 vehicles, the 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.3%, 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 2011 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 (2011)

208 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.3% first-time pass rate

2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight

CarHunch analysed 208 real MOT records for the 2011 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 2011 Harley-Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 59.9%, well below the UK average of 80%, which suggests these bikes face more frequent issues when tested. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at 1.9%, so safety-critical failures aren't a widespread concern for the model.

At a median mileage of 5,672 miles for a 13-year-old bike, these are relatively low-mileage machines, yet they're still generating an average of 0.56 failures and 2.3 advisories per test—indicating that age and storage conditions matter more than usage here. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection work and expect to address advisory items (likely brake wear, corrosion, or seals) before riding confidently.

We have limited data for the 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

90.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

1.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.56

Over 5.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 3k–9k

For context

These stats describe 208 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 208 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight

Based on MOT data from 208 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 1.9% 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 (98%)	204	90.2%	0.57

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 2011 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.

5,672

typical

3,396

low mileage

9,385

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight vehicles fall between 3,396 and 9,385 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 3,396 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.

✓ 3,396–9,385 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eights sit.

⚠ Over 12,669 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eights are still active.

Numbers are declining — 59 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% of 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

5.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.56

Avg failures per vehicle

2.3

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? →

2010

Or browse all models: Harley Davidson →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Harley Davidson XL 1200 X Forty Eight stacks up against a rival.

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