Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 46 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 15.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster MOT Reliability Overview
The Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 46 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.8% and a failure rate of 15.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster presents for MOT with approximately 9,560 miles on the clock.
The most common MOT failure for the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster is Motorcycle fuel and exhaust, affecting 6.5% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 6.5%. Identification of the vehicle rounds out the top three at 4.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
* 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
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 6.5% | 3 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 6.5% | 3 |
| 3 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 4.3% | 2 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 4.3% | 2 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 2.2% | 1 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.2% | 1 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Steering | 2.2% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 9,560 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 fuel and exhaust | 6.82 | 6.5% | 3 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 6.82 | 6.5% | 3 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 4.55 | 4.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 4.55 | 4.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.27 | 2.2% | 1 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.27 | 2.2% | 1 |
| Motorcycle steering | 2.27 | 2.2% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster has 9,560 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.
The Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 15.90% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster MOT Data
The Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 46 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.8% and a failure rate of 15.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle fuel and exhaust 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 Xl883l Sportster is likely to perform.
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust — 6.5% of failures
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust issues account for 6.5% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster. 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.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.5% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 6.5% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster. 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.
Identification of the vehicle — 4.3% of failures
Identification of the vehicle issues account for 4.3% of MOT failures on the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster?
Based on 46 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster has an overall pass rate of 84.8% (15.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster?
The top 3 reasons a Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (6.5%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.5%), 3. Identification of the vehicle (4.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster reliable?
With a 15.2% MOT failure rate, the Xl883l Sportster is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Harley-davidson Xl883l Sportster?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle fuel and exhaust (6.5%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.5%); Identification of the vehicle (4.3%). 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.