Harley Davidson Xr 1200 (2008)
2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200
CarHunch analysed 145 real MOT records for the 2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2008 Harley-Davidson XR 1200 is well below the UK average for MOT reliability, with a first-time pass rate of just 57.5% compared to the national 80%—this is a significant red flag that suggests these bikes require more attention and remedial work than most other vehicles. The good news is that dangerous defects are uncommon at 5.5%, so safety-critical failures aren't a major concern, but you should expect roughly one failure per bike and two advisory items on average.
With a median mileage of just under 9,000 miles for a 16-year-old bike, these XR 1200s are likely low-use garage queens, which explains why they're failing—infrequent riding often leads to fuel system gum, battery issues, and tyre degradation rather than mechanical wear. Before buying, budget for pre-MOT servicing including a full fuel system check, fresh fluids, and battery condition assessment, and seriously test-ride it to confirm the engine runs cleanly.
We have limited data for the 2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.
These stats describe 145 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.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 145 Harley Davidson Xr 1200 cars.
Before you buy a 2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200
Based on MOT data from 145 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
5.5% 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. -
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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
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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
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200 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.
Half of all 2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200 vehicles fall between 4,913 and 13,135 miles.
2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 59% of 2008 Harley Davidson Xr 1200s are still active.
40 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 59% 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
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Compare with another model
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