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Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 car check

Is the Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 reliable? We analysed 1,407 real MOT tests across 173 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,407 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.7%
Typical Mileage
8,302mi
Annual Mileage
556mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
16yrs

The Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, headlamp aim too low and registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11.

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.9%
2011
84.8%
2010

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 6
Headlamp aim too low 4
Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height 3
Registration plate does not have black characters on a yellow background 3

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 3

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
181 mi/yr
Typical
556 mi/yr
Average
1,116 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,426 mi/yr

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 1,029 87.9% 4,876 8,222 14,266
2010 289 84.8% 5,049 8,726 15,819

How Long Does a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Last?

Based on 173 Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.6 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
16 years

Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
8,302 mi
75th Percentile
14,347 mi
95th Percentile
27,981 mi
Max Recorded
83,795 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11

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

Best year
2011

87.9% MOT pass rate from 1,029 tests

Year to avoid
2010

84.8% MOT pass rate from 289 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.9% across 1,029 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.8% — 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 N Iron 11 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 N Iron 11 THIS CAR 87.7% 1,407 8,302 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
Lancia Thema 69.6% 2,292 114,309 mi 40 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 N Iron 11 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11?

The Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% across 1,407 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 N Iron 11 are reflector on motorcycle missing (6 recorded failures), headlamp aim too low (4), and registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (3). 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 XL 883 N Iron 11 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 N Iron 11 owner drives around 556 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 N Iron 11 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 N Iron 11 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 reliable?
Based on 1,407 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 has a 87.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, headlamp aim too low, and registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 does around 556 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 last?
Most Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 models stay on UK roads for around 16 years based on our analysis of 173 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11?
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 N Iron 11?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 883 N Iron 11 is 2011 with a 87.9% pass rate across 1,029 tests.