HARLEY-DAVIDSON 883 SPORTSTER

883cc Petrol Class 2

#2940 of 5426 overall #388 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #450 of 465 cruiser bikes

83.1%

first-time pass rate

10.9%

failed outright

11,782

median miles at test

431

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the 883 SPORTSTER's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 883 SPORTSTER passes first time 84.9% of the time; by 30k that's 90.9%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 883 SPORTSTER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	31	32
reg plates and vin	13	13.4
brakes	12	12.4
lamps and reflectors	11	11.3
tyres and wheels	8	8.2
steering and suspension	7	7.2
structure and attachments	5	5.2
tyres	4	4.1
Identification of the vehicle	3	3.1
drive system	3	3.1

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 SPORTSTER beats 0 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 SPORTSTER.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (89.8% pass). Weakest: 1991 (89.1%).

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.