HARLEY-DAVIDSON 883 ROADSTER XL R 13

883cc Petrol Class 2

#587 of 5426 overall #87 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #111 of 465 cruiser bikes

91.4%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

7,235

median miles at test

210

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a 883 ROADSTER XL R 13

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	6	26.1
lighting and signalling	5	21.7
structure and attachments	4	17.4
Identification of the vehicle	2	8.7
steering and suspension	1	4.3
suspension	1	4.3
tyres	1	4.3
tyres and wheels	1	4.3
fuel and exhaust	1	4.3
reg plates and vin	1	4.3

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 883 ROADSTER XL R 13 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 883 ROADSTER XL R 13.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2013 (91.3% pass). Weakest: 2013 (91.3%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.