Ducati 916 MOT pass rate and common failures

Ducati 916 motorcycles pass the MOT 90.33% of the time, measured across 393 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.11% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3.5 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 90.33% 355 of 393

Fixed at the station 6.11% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 19,140 miles

Average age at test 27.75 years old

Engine 919cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Ducati 916 adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with does not conform to the specified requirements - it accounts for 50% of failed tests on this model.
Then check inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps and not working, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (5.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 19,140 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
16+ years	90.21%		388

Why the Ducati 916 fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Does not conform to the specified requirements	50%	7
2	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	42.9%	6
3	Not working	42.9%	6
4	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	28.6%	4
5	Contaminated	21.4%	3
6	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	21.4%	3
7	Too low	21.4%	3
8	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	14.3%	2
9	Remains on when the brakes are released	14.3%	2
10	Rough when rotated	14.3%	2

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	5.6%	22
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2%	8
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.8%	7
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	1.8%	7
5	Has excessive play	1.5%	6
6	Has a serious fluid leak	1.3%	5
7	Excessively distorted	0.8%	3
8	Excessively loose	0.8%	3
9	Significantly and obviously worn	0.8%	3
10	Excessively binding	0.5%	2

Ducati 916 for sale

No Ducati 916 in stock at the moment - 49 other Ducati bikes are advertised.

Used Ducati 916 Used Ducati All Ducati Ducati MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Ducati 916 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Ducati 916?+

90.33% of Ducati 916 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 393 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Ducati 916?+

Does not conform to the specified requirements, which appears in 50% of failed tests on this model.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.