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Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 car check

Is the Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 reliable? We analysed 2,693 real MOT tests across 527 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,693 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.3%
Typical Mileage
4,984mi
Annual Mileage
496mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
10yrs

The Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 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 N Iron 17.

Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.2%
2018
90.3%
2017
91.4%
2016

Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 12
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6

Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
170 mi/yr
Typical
496 mi/yr
Average
1,024 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,217 mi/yr

Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 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 17 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2018 434 91.2% 3,006 4,914 7,948
2017 2,055 90.3% 2,784 4,996 8,717
2016 151 91.4% 2,938 5,712 10,388

How Long Does a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 Last?

Based on 527 Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
6.8 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
10 years

Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
4,984 mi
75th Percentile
8,605 mi
95th Percentile
19,098 mi
Max Recorded
51,081 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17

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

Best year
2016

91.4% MOT pass rate from 151 tests

Year to avoid
2017

90.3% MOT pass rate from 2,055 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.4% across 151 tests. The 2017 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 N Iron 17 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 17 THIS CAR 90.3% 2,693 4,984 mi 10 yrs
Harley Davidson Flstf 90.2% 29,205 12,821 mi 36 yrs
Harley Davidson XL 89.1% 22,811 6,150 mi 13 yrs
Harley Davidson Flstc 90.4% 18,909 18,256 mi 37 yrs
Yamaha FZR400 75.9% 5,045 29,620 mi 39 yrs

Compared to the Harley Davidson Flstf (90.2% pass rate) and the Harley Davidson XL (89.1% pass rate), the Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17?

The Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% across 2,693 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

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 17 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 17 owner drives around 496 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 17 models stay on UK roads for around 10 years. If you're buying one that's already well within 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 17 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 reliable?
Based on 2,693 MOT tests, the Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 has a 90.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 do per year?
The typical Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 does around 496 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 last?
Most Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 models stay on UK roads for around 10 years based on our analysis of 527 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17?
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 17?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley Davidson XL 883 N Iron 17 is 2016 with a 91.4% pass rate across 151 tests.