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Harley-davidson Xl 883 R MOT Pass Rate

Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 32 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 9.4%.

90.6%
Pass Rate
9.4%
Fail Rate
32
Total Tests
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors
Top Failure

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Harley-davidson Xl 883 R MOT Reliability Overview

The Harley-davidson Xl 883 R is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 32 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.6% and a failure rate of 9.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.

Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Xl 883 R presents for MOT with approximately 12,166 miles on the clock.

The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors, affecting 12.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 9.4%. Motorcycle body and structure rounds out the top three at 6.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.

⚠ Based on limited data (32 tests)

Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.

What Fails Most

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors 12.5%
Motorcycle lighting and signalling 9.4%
Motorcycle body and structure 6.3%
⚖️ Compare

* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors12.5%4
2Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling9.4%3
3Motorcycle Body And Structure6.3%2
4Motorcycle Brakes3.1%1
5Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust3.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 12,166 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors10.27% per 10K miMotorcycle lighting and signalling7.71% per 10K miMotorcycle body and structure5.14% per 10K miMotorcycle brakes2.57% per 10K miMotorcycle fuel and exhaust2.57% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors10.2712.5%4
Motorcycle lighting and signalling7.719.4%3
Motorcycle body and structure5.146.3%2
Motorcycle brakes2.573.1%1
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust2.573.1%1

🚗 Similar Cars to Consider

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No comparable models

Mileage at MOT

12,166
Mean
14,001
Median
6,335
25th Percentile
20,054
75th Percentile

The average Harley-davidson Xl 883 R has 12,166 miles when tested for MOT.

📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate

How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.

7.73%
Fail Rate per 10K Miles
Average across all makes: 5.38%
9.4%
Overall Fail Rate
12,166 avg miles
🔴 Poor — above average failure rate

The Harley-davidson Xl 883 R has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.73% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.

About Harley-davidson Xl 883 R MOT Data

The Harley-davidson Xl 883 R is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 32 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.6% and a failure rate of 9.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.

For Harley-davidson Xl 883 R owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lamps and reflectors and motorcycle lighting and signalling for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Xl 883 R is likely to perform.

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 12.5% of failures

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 12.5% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.4% of failures

Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 9.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

Motorcycle body and structure — 6.3% of failures

Motorcycle body and structure issues account for 6.3% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R?

Based on 32 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R has an overall pass rate of 90.6% (9.4% fail rate).

What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley-davidson Xl 883 R?

The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Xl 883 R fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (12.5%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.4%), 3. Motorcycle body and structure (6.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.

Is the Harley-davidson Xl 883 R reliable?

With a 9.4% MOT failure rate, the Xl 883 R is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.

What should I check before an MOT on my Harley-davidson Xl 883 R?

Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (12.5%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.4%); Motorcycle body and structure (6.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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