Harley-Davidson XLH 883 MOT pass rate and common failures
Harley-Davidson XLH 883 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.79% of the time, measured across 1,441 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.25% 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 not working - it accounts for 52.3% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing 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 (17.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 17,348 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 87.7% | 1,415 |
Why the Harley-Davidson XLH 883 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 | Not working | 52.3% | 45 | |
| 2 | Missing | 39.5% | 34 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 29.1% | 25 | |
| 4 | Too high | 23.3% | 20 | |
| 5 | Insecure | 18.6% | 16 | |
| 6 | Too low | 12.8% | 11 | |
| 7 | Obviously incorrectly positioned | 9.3% | 8 | |
| 8 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 9.3% | 8 | |
| 9 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 8.1% | 7 | |
| 10 | Not working on dipped beam | 8.1% | 7 |
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 | 17.1% | 246 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 4.7% | 68 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 3.1% | 44 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.9% | 42 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.2% | 32 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 1.2% | 18 | |
| 7 | Has excessive play | 1.2% | 18 | |
| 8 | Excessively distorted | 0.7% | 10 | |
| 9 | Significantly and obviously worn | 0.7% | 10 | |
| 10 | Excessively corroded | 0.6% | 9 |
Harley-Davidson XLH 883 for sale
No Harley-Davidson XLH 883 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 R1200 · 1,170cc | 9,521 | 94.43% | 28,830 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc | 6,170 | 95.28% | 27,241 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method