KTM 790 DUKE 18 MOT pass rate and common failures

KTM 790 DUKE 18 motorcycles pass the MOT 90.16% of the time, measured across 508 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.33% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 90.16% 458 of 508

Fixed at the station 4.33% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 11,442 miles

Average age at test 6.76 years old

Engine 799cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 KTM 790 DUKE 18 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 57.1% of failed tests on this model.
Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and too high, 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 (14.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 11,442 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
6-10 years	90.4%		479

Why the KTM 790 DUKE 18 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	57.1%	16
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	28.6%	8
3	Too high	21.4%	6
4	Remains on when the brakes are released	17.9%	5
5	Too low	17.9%	5
6	Does not conform to the specified requirements	14.3%	4
7	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	14.3%	4
8	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	14.3%	4
9	Insecure	10.7%	3
10	Obviously incorrectly positioned	10.7%	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	14.2%	72
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6.9%	35
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	6.7%	34
4	Excessively loose	4.1%	21
5	Tread not clearly visible	2.8%	14
6	Has a serious fluid leak	1.8%	9
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.8%	9
8	Worn to excess	1%	5
9	Significantly and obviously worn	0.8%	4
10	Incorrect which adversely affects the steering	0.4%	2

KTM 790 DUKE 18 for sale

No KTM 790 DUKE 18 in stock at the moment - 297 other KTM bikes are advertised.

Used KTM 790 DUKE 18 Used KTM All KTM KTM 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 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

KTM 790 DUKE 18 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the KTM 790 DUKE 18?+

90.16% of KTM 790 DUKE 18 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 508 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a KTM 790 DUKE 18?+

Missing, which appears in 57.1% 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.