Harley-Davidson XL 883 N IRON MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson XL 883 N IRON motorcycles pass the MOT 89.12% of the time, measured across 1,351 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.85% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with missing - it accounts for 52.9% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and too low, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (28.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 7,827 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 91.99% | 337 | |
| 6-10 years | 88.03% | 994 |
Why the Harley-Davidson XL 883 N IRON fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missing | 52.9% | 36 | |
| 2 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 47.1% | 32 | |
| 3 | Too low | 22.1% | 15 | |
| 4 | Remains on when the brakes are released | 20.6% | 14 | |
| 5 | Inoperative | 14.7% | 10 | |
| 6 | Not working | 13.2% | 9 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 10.3% | 7 | |
| 8 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 8.8% | 6 | |
| 9 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 7.4% | 5 | |
| 10 | Incorrect | 7.4% | 5 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 28.3% | 383 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.1% | 42 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.6% | 35 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 1.3% | 18 | |
| 5 | Excessively binding | 0.7% | 10 | |
| 6 | Insecure | 0.6% | 8 | |
| 7 | Chain guard missing | 0.3% | 4 | |
| 8 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 0.3% | 4 | |
| 9 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 0.2% | 3 | |
| 10 | Excessively corroded | 0.2% | 3 |
Harley-Davidson XL 883 N IRON for sale
No Harley-Davidson XL 883 N IRON in stock at the moment - 48 other Harley-Davidson bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph TIGER · 969cc | 16,144 | 91.27% | 22,934 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc | 12,456 | 90.8% | 12,824 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc | 6,022 | 88.01% | 23,152 | |
| Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc | 5,720 | 90.98% | 16,130 | |
| Honda NC · 741cc | 5,311 | 89.53% | 22,765 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method