Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster (2006)
2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster
CarHunch analysed 154 real MOT records for the 2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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This 2006 Sportster's 71.8% first-time pass rate falls notably short of the UK average at 80%, suggesting these bikes encounter more issues than the typical vehicle at MOT time. The 5.8% dangerous defect rate is relatively low, so safety-critical failures aren't a widespread concern, though nearly three-quarters of these machines need attention on their test.
The median mileage of 8,320 miles is surprisingly low for a 18-year-old bike, indicating many examples have seen light use—which should favour reliability. However, the 0.93 average failures per vehicle and 3.1 advisories tells you that when these Harleys do come in for testing, they typically need multiple items addressed, usually around brake wear, exhaust condition, and lighting. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection done by a Harley specialist, as DIY or non-specialist maintenance tends to show up clearly on the MOT sheet.
We have limited data for the 2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.
These stats describe 154 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 154 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster cars.
Before you buy a 2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster
Based on MOT data from 154 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
5.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (95%) | 146 | 88.7% | 0.97 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster vehicles fall between 4,630 and 16,696 miles.
2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportster — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2006 Harley Davidson XL 883 R Sportsters are still active.
49 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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