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Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 car check

Is the Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 reliable? We analysed 894 real MOT tests across 101 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 894 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.3%
Typical Mileage
6,836mi
Annual Mileage
581mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
15yrs

The Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12.

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.8%
2013
91.9%
2012
89.3%
2011

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 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 8

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 10
Valve stem seriously damaged 4
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 2

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
199 mi/yr
Typical
581 mi/yr
Average
1,206 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,560 mi/yr

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 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 12 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 182 86.8% 3,505 5,966 15,785
2012 493 91.9% 3,238 6,582 11,620
2011 197 89.3% 4,058 7,198 12,068

Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
6,836 mi
75th Percentile
11,994 mi
95th Percentile
26,771 mi
Max Recorded
69,107 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12

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

Best year
2012

91.9% MOT pass rate from 493 tests

Year to avoid
2013

86.8% MOT pass rate from 182 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.9% across 493 tests. The 2013 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.8% — 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 12 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 12 THIS CAR 90.3% 894 6,836 mi 15 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
Mercedes-benz V 300 AMG Line Marco Polo D A 82% 399 25,332 mi — 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 12 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12?

The Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% across 894 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm with 8 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

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 12 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 12 owner drives around 581 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 12 models stay on UK roads for around 15 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 12 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 reliable?
Based on 894 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 has a 90.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 does around 581 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 last?
Most Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 models stay on UK roads for around 15 years based on our analysis of 101 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12?
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 12?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 L Superlow 12 is 2012 with a 91.9% pass rate across 493 tests.