Harley-Davidson XL883 MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson XL883 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.5% of the time, measured across 776 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.06% 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 42% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working and does not conform to the specified requirements, 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 (23.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 16,067 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 | 88.6% | 272 | |
| 16+ years | 86.27% | 459 |
Why the Harley-Davidson XL883 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 | 42% | 21 | |
| 2 | Not working | 42% | 21 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 36% | 18 | |
| 4 | Too low | 16% | 8 | |
| 5 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 16% | 8 | |
| 6 | Too high | 16% | 8 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 10% | 5 | |
| 8 | Has a serious fluid leak | 8% | 4 | |
| 9 | Rough when rotated | 8% | 4 | |
| 10 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 6% | 3 |
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 | 23.2% | 180 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 3.5% | 27 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3% | 23 | |
| 4 | Excessively binding | 1.4% | 11 | |
| 5 | Has excessive play | 1% | 8 | |
| 6 | Excessively corroded | 0.8% | 6 | |
| 7 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.8% | 6 | |
| 8 | Significantly and obviously worn | 0.6% | 5 | |
| 9 | Bent so it cannot be readily operated | 0.4% | 3 | |
| 10 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 0.4% | 3 |
Harley-Davidson XL883 for sale
No Harley-Davidson XL883 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 R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| 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 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method