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Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow car check

Is the Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow reliable? We analysed 1,293 real MOT tests across 140 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,293 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.9%
Typical Mileage
6,658mi
Annual Mileage
494mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
16yrs

The Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, floor brake test indicates a binding brake and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow.

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Number Plates

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

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

90.3%
2011
92.8%
2010

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6
Floor brake test indicates a binding brake 3
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 2

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 5
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released 4
Handlebar grip insecure to handlebar 2
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 2

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
172 mi/yr
Typical
494 mi/yr
Average
979 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,224 mi/yr

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 879 90.3% 3,928 6,938 11,494
2010 360 92.8% 2,914 5,809 9,985

How Long Does a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Last?

Based on 140 Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.8 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
16 years

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow Mileage Distribution

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

Median
6,658 mi
75th Percentile
11,216 mi
95th Percentile
23,018 mi
Max Recorded
46,544 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow

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

Best year
2010

92.8% MOT pass rate from 360 tests

Year to avoid
2011

90.3% MOT pass rate from 879 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.8% across 360 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.3% — 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 XL 883 L Superlow Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow THIS CAR 90.9% 1,293 6,658 mi 16 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
MG Td 87.1% 2,497 22,381 mi 76 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 XL 883 L Superlow outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow?

The Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.9% across 1,293 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 XL 883 L Superlow are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (6 recorded failures), floor brake test indicates a binding brake (3), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (2). 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 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 XL 883 L Superlow owner drives around 494 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 XL 883 L Superlow models stay on UK roads for around 16 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. 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 XL 883 L Superlow — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow reliable?
Based on 1,293 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow has a 90.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, floor brake test indicates a binding brake, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow does around 494 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow last?
Most Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow models stay on UK roads for around 16 years based on our analysis of 140 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow?
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 XL 883 L Superlow?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow is 2010 with a 92.8% pass rate across 360 tests.