Ducati M821 MOT pass rate and common failures

Ducati M821 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.56% of the time, measured across 418 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.55% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.7 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 87.56% 366 of 418
Fixed at the station 4.55% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 8,371 miles
Average age at test 6.74 years old
Engine 821cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Ducati M821 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort - it accounts for 21.2% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and has no recorded effort at a wheel, 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 (12.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 8,371 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
3-5 years 87.96% 108
6-10 years 87.42% 310

Why the Ducati M821 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 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 21.2% 7
2 Missing 21.2% 7
3 Has no recorded effort at a wheel 18.2% 6
4 The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% 18.2% 6
5 Has insufficient reserve travel 12.1% 4
6 Effort inadequate at a wheel 9.1% 3
7 Too high 9.1% 3
8 Does not conform to the specified requirements 6.1% 2
9 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 6.1% 2
10 Has a serious fluid leak 6.1% 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 12.7% 53
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8.1% 34
3 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 7.7% 32
4 Excessively loose 4.3% 18
5 Worn to excess 1.9% 8
6 Has a serious fluid leak 1.2% 5
7 Less than 1.0 mm thick 1% 4
8 Tread not clearly visible 1% 4
9 Has an excessively worn bush 0.7% 3
10 Excessively tight 0.5% 2

Ducati M821 for sale

No Ducati M821 in stock at the moment - 49 other Ducati bikes are advertised.

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 S 1000 · 999cc 8,445 91.96% 15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc 6,022 88.01% 23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc 5,720 90.98% 16,130
Honda NC · 741cc 5,311 89.53% 22,765

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

Ducati M821 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Ducati M821?+
87.56% of Ducati M821 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 418 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Ducati M821?+
Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort, which appears in 21.2% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Ducati M821 get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 87.42%, against 87.96% for examples 3-5 years old.
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.
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