KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 MOT pass rate and common failures

KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 motorcycles pass the MOT 92.86% of the time, measured across 210 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.81% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 6 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 92.86% 195 of 210
Fixed at the station 3.81% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 9,640 miles
Average age at test 3.61 years old
Engine 889cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with not working - it accounts for 85.7% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and grabbing severely, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (4.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 9,640 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 92.86% 210

Why the KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 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 Not working 85.7% 6
2 Missing 57.1% 4
3 Grabbing severely 28.6% 2
4 Component leaking 14.3% 1
5 Does not conform to the specified requirements 14.3% 1
6 Has a serious fluid leak 14.3% 1
7 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 14.3% 1
8 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 14.3% 1
9 Significantly and obviously worn 14.3% 1

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 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 4.3% 9
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4.3% 9
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 1.9% 4
4 Excessively loose 1.4% 3
5 Excessively tight 1% 2
6 Has a serious fluid leak 1% 2
7 Tread not clearly visible 1% 2
8 Has excessive wear or free play 0.5% 1
9 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 0.5% 1
10 Inscription illegible 0.5% 1

KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 for sale

No KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 in stock at the moment - 297 other KTM 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 R SERIES · 1,152cc 9,796 91.92% 40,594
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

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

KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21?+
92.86% of KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 210 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a KTM 890 ADVENTURE 21?+
Not working, which appears in 85.7% 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.
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