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Harley-davidson Xl 883 MOT Pass Rate

Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 87 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 21.8%.

78.2%
Pass Rate
21.8%
Fail Rate
87
Total Tests
Motorcycle lighting and signalling
Top Failure

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Harley-davidson Xl 883 MOT Reliability Overview

The Harley-davidson Xl 883 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 87 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.2% and a failure rate of 21.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.

Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Xl 883 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Xl 883 presents for MOT with approximately 8,454 miles on the clock.

The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Xl 883 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 12.6% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle brakes at 10.3%. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust rounds out the top three at 3.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.

⚠ Based on limited data (87 tests)

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

What Fails Most

Motorcycle lighting and signalling 12.6%
Motorcycle brakes 10.3%
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust 3.4%
⚖️ 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 Lighting And Signalling12.6%11
2Motorcycle Brakes10.3%9
3Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust3.4%3
4Motorcycle Steering And Suspension3.4%3
5Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors3.4%3
6Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin2.3%2
7Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels1.1%1
8Motorcycle Structure And Attachments1.1%1
9Identification Of The Vehicle1.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 8,454 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 lighting and signalling14.96% per 10K miMotorcycle brakes12.24% per 10K miMotorcycle fuel and exhaust4.08% per 10K miMotorcycle steering and suspension4.08% per 10K miMotorcycle lamps and reflectors4.08% per 10K miMotorcycle reg plates and vin2.72% per 10K miMotorcycle tyres and wheels1.36% per 10K miMotorcycle structure and attachments1.36% per 10K miIdentification of the vehicle1.36% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Motorcycle lighting and signalling14.9612.6%11
Motorcycle brakes12.2410.3%9
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust4.083.4%3
Motorcycle steering and suspension4.083.4%3
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors4.083.4%3
Motorcycle reg plates and vin2.722.3%2
Motorcycle tyres and wheels1.361.1%1
Motorcycle structure and attachments1.361.1%1
Identification of the vehicle1.361.1%1

🚗 Similar Cars to Consider

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No comparable models

Mileage at MOT

8,454
Mean
5,733
Median
2,833
25th Percentile
9,010
75th Percentile

The average Harley-davidson Xl 883 has 8,454 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.

25.79%
Fail Rate per 10K Miles
Average across all makes: 5.38%
21.8%
Overall Fail Rate
8,454 avg miles
🔴 Poor — above average failure rate

The Harley-davidson Xl 883 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 25.79% 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 MOT Data

The Harley-davidson Xl 883 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 87 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.2% and a failure rate of 21.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.

For Harley-davidson Xl 883 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle brakes 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 is likely to perform.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.6% of failures

Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 12.6% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl 883. 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 brakes — 10.3% of failures

Motorcycle brakes issues account for 10.3% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl 883. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).

Motorcycle fuel and exhaust — 3.4% of failures

Motorcycle fuel and exhaust issues account for 3.4% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl 883. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Based on 87 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Xl 883 has an overall pass rate of 78.2% (21.8% fail rate).

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

The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Xl 883 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (12.6%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (10.3%), 3. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (3.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.

Is the Harley-davidson Xl 883 reliable?

With a 21.8% MOT failure rate, the Xl 883 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?

Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (12.6%); Motorcycle brakes (10.3%); Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (3.4%). 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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