HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883

883cc Petrol Class 2

#2689 of 5426 overall #382 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #441 of 465 cruiser bikes

84.2%

first-time pass rate

6.1%

failed outright

15,714

median miles at test

279

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage SPORTSTER 883 passes first time 85.2% of the time; by 20k that's 82.9%.

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 SPORTSTER 883

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	10	33.3
steering and suspension	6	20
brakes	6	20
lamps and reflectors	2	6.7
structure and attachments	1	3.3
tyres	1	3.3
Identification of the vehicle	1	3.3
tyres and wheels	1	3.3
audible warning (Horn)	1	3.3
driving controls	1	3.3

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 SPORTSTER 883 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 SPORTSTER 883.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1995 (89.5% pass). Weakest: 1995 (89.5%).

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.