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Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 car check

Is the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 reliable? We analysed 2,104 real MOT tests across 276 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,104 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.5%
Typical Mileage
6,913mi
Annual Mileage
519mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
13yrs

The Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, headlamp aim too low and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13.

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.4%
2013
87%
2012

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 7
Headlamp aim too low 7
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 6

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
169 mi/yr
Typical
519 mi/yr
Average
1,031 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,256 mi/yr

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 1,980 88.4% 4,130 7,036 11,115
2012 69 87.0% 2,192 4,394 6,273

How Long Does a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Last?

Based on 276 Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.8 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
13 years

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
6,913 mi
75th Percentile
10,964 mi
95th Percentile
21,457 mi
Max Recorded
63,543 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2013

88.4% MOT pass rate from 1,980 tests

Year to avoid
2012

87.0% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.4% across 1,980 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 THIS CAR 88.5% 2,104 6,913 mi 13 yrs
Harley-davidson Xlh 883 88.8% 47,203 10,536 mi 38 yrs
Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport 89.4% 16,429 10,286 mi 29 yrs
Harley-davidson XL53 C 88.6% 15,043 11,058 mi 28 yrs
Skoda Octavia Vrs 79.7% 1,347 108,656 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 (88.8% pass rate) and the Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport (89.4% pass rate), the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13?

The Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.5% across 2,104 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 are reflector on motorcycle missing (7 recorded failures), headlamp aim too low (7), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (5). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 owner drives around 519 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 reliable?
Based on 2,104 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 has a 88.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, headlamp aim too low, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 does around 519 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 last?
Most Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years based on our analysis of 276 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson Iron 883 XL N 13 is 2013 with a 88.4% pass rate across 1,980 tests.