HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 N IRON 12

883cc Petrol Class 2

#2658 of 5426 overall #380 of 397 HARLEY-DAVIDSONs #439 of 465 cruiser bikes

84.3%

first-time pass rate

6.5%

failed outright

6,955

median miles at test

1,173

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2025

The XL 883 N IRON 12's first-time pass rate has risen 20.2 points since 2014, 68.8% to 89.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XL 883 N IRON 12 passes first time 85.7% of the time; by 20k that's 78.0%.

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 N IRON 12

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	46	30.5	1.5×
lighting and signalling	30	19.9	0.4×
structure and attachments	15	9.9	1.6×
reg plates and vin	14	9.3	1.2×
brakes	12	7.9	0.2×
Identification of the vehicle	9	6	3.3×
fuel and exhaust	8	5.3	0.7×
tyres	6	4	0.7×
steering and suspension	6	4	0.2×
driving controls	5	3.3	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 N IRON 12 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 XL 883 N IRON 12.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (84.7% pass). Weakest: 2011 (83.9%).

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 N IRON 12 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 N IRON 12 reliable?

The HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 883 N IRON 12 is about average for its class: 84.3% of its 1,173 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2658 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 883 N IRON 12 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 30% of all defects recorded against failed XL 883 N IRON 12 tests.

How many miles will a XL 883 N IRON 12 last?

The median XL 883 N IRON 12 shows 6,955 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 78.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.