Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Harley-Davidson XL883C Sportster: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which XL883C Sportster years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 87.5% average, from 5,606 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2003 (90.3% of 176 tests). Lowest: 1999 (79.9% of 199). Years more than two points below the model average: 1999.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (87.5%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 180 | 85.6% | -1.9 pp |
| 1999 | 199 | 79.9% | -7.6 pp |
| 2000 | 243 | 88.9% | +1.4 pp |
| 2001 | 150 | 88.0% | +0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 125 | 86.4% | -1.1 pp |
| 2003 | 176 | 90.3% | +2.8 pp |
| 2004 | 421 | 86.5% | -1.0 pp |
| 2005 | 1,336 | 89.0% | +1.5 pp |
| 2006 | 1,042 | 86.9% | -0.6 pp |
| 2007 | 638 | 87.3% | -0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 576 | 88.4% | +0.9 pp |
| 2009 | 303 | 87.1% | -0.4 pp |
| 2010 | 166 | 88.6% | +1.1 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which XL883C Sportster years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1999 registered examples pass first time less often than the Harley-Davidson XL883C Sportster overall (87.5%); the 1999 cohort is lowest at 79.9% from 199 tests.
- Which XL883C Sportster year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 2003, at 90.3% of 176 first tests (2005–2025).
- How much does the XL883C Sportster pass rate vary by year?
- 10.4 percentage points between the highest (2003, 90.3%) and lowest (1999, 79.9%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Harley-Davidson XL883C Sportster reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #1750 of 5428 models· other Harley-Davidson models: XLH 883, Flstf, Flstc, XL, XL1200C, XL883