HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12

883cc Petrol Class 2

#1303 of 5426 overall #211 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #254 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.9%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

6,572

median miles at test

720

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2025

The XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.4 points since 2015, 87.1% to 85.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 passes first time 89.9% of the time; by 20k that's 82.7%.

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 XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	18	20.7	1.0×
brakes	16	18.4	0.4×
tyres	14	16.1	2.4×
Identification of the vehicle	10	11.5	5.4×
tyres and wheels	8	9.2	0.4×
structure and attachments	8	9.2	1.4×
reg plates and vin	4	4.6	1.0×
lighting and signalling	4	4.6	0.1×
steering and suspension	3	3.4	0.1×
audible warning (Horn)	2	2.3	1.5×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 beats 3 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 XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 2013 (83.5%).

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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.9% of its 720 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1303 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 21% of all defects recorded against failed XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 tests.

What is the best year of XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (90.7%) and 2013 worst (83.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 last?

The median XL 883 L SUPERLOW 12 shows 6,572 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 82.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.