KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 MOT pass rate and common failures

KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 motorcycles pass the MOT 91.18% of the time, measured across 238 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.04% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 4.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 91.18% 217 of 238

Fixed at the station 5.04% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 8,471 miles

Average age at test 3.67 years old

Engine 889cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 77.8% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too high 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 (4.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 8,471 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	91.18%		238

Why the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 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	Missing	77.8%	7
2	Too high	44.4%	4
3	Not working	22.2%	2
4	Obviously incorrectly positioned	22.2%	2
5	Too low	22.2%	2
6	Does not conform to the specified requirements	11.1%	1
7	Excessively loose	11.1%	1
8	Grip insecure to handlebar	11.1%	1
9	Has a serious fluid leak	11.1%	1
10	Has a tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	11.1%	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	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	4.6%	11
2	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	4.2%	10
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.5%	6
4	Excessively loose	2.1%	5
5	Has a serious fluid leak	2.1%	5
6	Significantly and obviously worn	2.1%	5
7	Has excessive play	1.3%	3
8	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.3%	3
9	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.3%	3
10	Shortened so it cannot be readily operated	1.3%	3

KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 for sale

No KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 in stock at the moment - 297 other KTM bikes are advertised.

Used KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 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 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 R 21 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21?+

91.18% of KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 238 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a KTM 890 ADVENTURE R 21?+

Missing, which appears in 77.8% 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.