Harley-Davidson XL 883L SPORTSTER MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson XL 883L SPORTSTER motorcycles pass the MOT 89.92% of the time, measured across 238 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.78% 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 40% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 94.59% of 11-15 year old examples pass, against 89.05% at 16+ years - a gap of 5.5 points.
- 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 (20.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 14,428 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-15 years | 94.59% | 37 | |
| 16+ years | 89.05% | 201 |
Why the Harley-Davidson XL 883L SPORTSTER 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 | 40% | 6 | |
| 2 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 26.7% | 4 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 20% | 3 | |
| 4 | Not working | 20% | 3 | |
| 5 | Flashing more than 120 times a minute | 13.3% | 2 | |
| 6 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 13.3% | 2 | |
| 7 | Mounting insecure | 13.3% | 2 | |
| 8 | Adversely affected by the operation of another lamp | 6.7% | 1 | |
| 9 | Designed for front wheel use fitted to the rear wheel | 6.7% | 1 | |
| 10 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 6.7% | 1 |
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 | 20.6% | 49 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.8% | 9 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.1% | 5 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 5 | Insecure | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 6 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 7 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 8 | Excessively binding | 0.8% | 2 | |
| 9 | Has a serious fluid leak | 0.8% | 2 | |
| 10 | Significantly and obviously worn | 0.8% | 2 |
Harley-Davidson XL 883L SPORTSTER for sale
No Harley-Davidson XL 883L SPORTSTER 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