Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED MOT pass rate and common failures

Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED motorcycles pass the MOT 88.96% of the time, measured across 589 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.43% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.1 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 88.96% 524 of 589
Fixed at the station 5.43% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 6,248 miles
Average age at test 6.07 years old
Engine 803cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with missing - it accounts for 39.4% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check not working on dipped beam and does not conform to the specified requirements, 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 (4.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 6,248 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 87.5% 256
6-10 years 90.09% 333

Why the Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED 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 Missing 39.4% 13
2 Not working on dipped beam 30.3% 10
3 Does not conform to the specified requirements 27.3% 9
4 Not working 27.3% 9
5 Too high 27.3% 9
6 The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% 15.2% 5
7 Too low 15.2% 5
8 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 12.1% 4
9 Has insufficient reserve travel 12.1% 4
10 Has a serious fluid leak 9.1% 3

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 4.1% 24
2 Excessively loose 2.4% 14
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 1.7% 10
4 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 1.7% 10
5 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.5% 9
6 Worn to excess 1.2% 7
7 Excessively stiff or notchy 0.7% 4
8 Sprocket worn to excess 0.7% 4
9 Has excessive play 0.5% 3
10 Shortened so it cannot be readily operated 0.5% 3

Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED for sale

No Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED in stock at the moment - 50 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 SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED?+
88.96% of Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED MOT tests end in a pass, based on 589 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED?+
Missing, which appears in 39.4% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Ducati SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 90.09%, against 87.5% 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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