HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883C vs TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD passes its MOT first time more often than the HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883C — 87.8% vs 86.9%, a 0.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883C	TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD
First-time pass rate	86.9%	87.8%
Outright fail rate	6.1%	6.2%
Median miles at test	9,488	13,106
MOT tests analysed	5,386	56,312
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883C 86.9% pass · 5,386 tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests

See each bike's full report — trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals — on its own page.