1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for Xl883c Sportster models manufactured in 1999, based on 152 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster MOT Analysis
The 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster has an MOT pass rate of 81.6% based on 152 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 17,062 miles on the odometer. With a 18.4% failure rate, the 1999 Xl883c Sportster is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster is Motorcycle suspension, responsible for 3.9% of failures. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs range from £200–500. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors is the second most common issue at 2.6%. Motorcycle steering follows at 2.6%.
Top failures specific to 1999 models only. The overall Xl883c Sportster page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Suspension | 3.9% | 6 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.6% | 4 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering | 2.6% | 4 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Brakes | 1.3% | 2 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Wheels | 1.3% | 2 |
| 6 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.3% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 17,062 miFor 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle suspension | 2.31 | 3.9% | 6 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.54 | 2.6% | 4 |
| Motorcycle steering | 1.54 | 2.6% | 4 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 0.77 | 1.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.77 | 1.3% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.77 | 1.3% | 2 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster has an MOT pass rate of 81.6% based on 152 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 17,062 miles on the odometer. With a 18.4% failure rate, the 1999 Xl883c Sportster is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to motorcycle suspension: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks. With relatively low average mileage of 17,062 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.
Motorcycle suspension — 3.9% of failures
Motorcycle suspension issues account for 3.9% of MOT failures on 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 2.6% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 2.6% of MOT failures on 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster models. 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 steering — 2.6% of failures
Motorcycle steering issues account for 2.6% of MOT failures on 1999 Harley-davidson Xl883c Sportster models. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.