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Harley-davidson Xlh 883 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Harley-davidson Xlh 883 car check

Is the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 reliable? We analysed 47,203 real MOT tests across 3,976 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 47,203 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.8%
Typical Mileage
10,536mi
Annual Mileage
432mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Harley-davidson Xlh 883 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson Xlh 883.

Harley-davidson Xlh 883 Number Plates

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

Harley-davidson Xlh 883 MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

87.7%
2010
88.6%
2009
90.8%
2008
88.5%
2007
91%
2006
90.1%
2005
89.6%
2004
89.8%
2003
89.3%
2002
88.9%
2001
88.5%
2000
88.1%
1999
88.1%
1998
87.3%
1997
84%
1996
89.6%
1995
84.9%
1994
84.7%
1993
86.3%
1992
83.2%
1991

Harley-davidson Xlh 883 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 217
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 169
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 150
reflector on motorcycle missing 145
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 135
Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height 124
Exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording 103
Headlamp aim too low 88

Harley-davidson Xlh 883 Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
141 mi/yr
Typical
432 mi/yr
Average
977 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,101 mi/yr

Harley-davidson Xlh 883 MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 81 87.7% 2,910 6,585 11,878
2009 990 88.6% 4,679 8,568 13,147
2008 1,013 90.8% 4,248 8,121 13,412
2007 1,265 88.5% 4,529 9,174 15,248
2006 1,782 91.0% 4,778 8,475 15,518
2005 2,588 90.1% 4,936 8,945 15,404
2004 4,989 89.6% 5,718 9,794 16,627
2003 6,814 89.8% 4,558 8,349 14,432
2002 5,205 89.3% 5,308 9,656 15,838
2001 5,012 88.9% 6,388 10,702 16,614
2000 5,170 88.5% 6,724 12,241 19,693
1999 3,389 88.1% 6,966 13,119 20,750
1998 2,797 88.1% 7,798 13,192 20,092
1997 1,355 87.3% 8,008 13,840 22,415
1996 382 84.0% 5,142 12,884 17,351
1995 578 89.6% 5,647 12,031 18,415
1994 391 84.9% 6,976 13,975 21,326
1993 406 84.7% 10,734 17,636 21,728
1992 410 86.3% 8,105 14,207 22,598
1991 570 83.2% 8,200 15,436 23,843

How Long Does a Harley-davidson Xlh 883 Last?

Based on 3,976 Harley-davidson Xlh 883 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.4 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Harley-davidson Xlh 883 Mileage Distribution

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

Median
10,536 mi
75th Percentile
17,576 mi
95th Percentile
33,075 mi
Max Recorded
558,755 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson Xlh 883

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

Best year
2006

91.0% MOT pass rate from 1,782 tests

Year to avoid
1990

83.1% MOT pass rate from 599 tests

The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson Xlh 883 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.0% across 1,782 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.1% — 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 Xlh 883 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Harley-davidson Xlh 883 THIS CAR 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
Harley-davidson Flstfi 90.4% 12,402 11,794 mi 26 yrs
London Taxis Int TX1 Bronze 67% 72,025 337,520 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport (89.4% pass rate) and the Harley-davidson XL53 C (88.6% pass rate), the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Harley-davidson Xlh 883?

The Harley-davidson Xlh 883 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.8% across 47,203 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 Xlh 883 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (217 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (169), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (150). 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.

A typical Harley-davidson Xlh 883 owner drives around 432 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 Xlh 883 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 Xlh 883 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 reliable?
Based on 47,203 MOT tests, the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 has a 88.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Harley-davidson Xlh 883?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Harley-davidson Xlh 883 do per year?
The typical Harley-davidson Xlh 883 does around 432 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Harley-davidson Xlh 883 last?
Most Harley-davidson Xlh 883 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 3,976 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Harley-davidson Xlh 883?
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 Xlh 883?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Harley-davidson Xlh 883 is 2006 with a 91.0% pass rate across 1,782 tests.