KTM 890 DUKE R 21 MOT pass rate and common failures
KTM 890 DUKE R 21 motorcycles pass the MOT 91.36% of the time, measured across 220 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with missing - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition and excessively tight, so that it is likely to fail, 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 (10.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 6,323 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 | 91.36% | 220 |
Why the KTM 890 DUKE 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 | 100% | 8 | |
| 2 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 37.5% | 3 | |
| 3 | Excessively tight, so that it is likely to fail | 25% | 2 | |
| 4 | Too high | 25% | 2 | |
| 5 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 25% | 2 | |
| 6 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 12.5% | 1 | |
| 7 | Excessively loose | 12.5% | 1 | |
| 8 | Incorrect | 12.5% | 1 | |
| 9 | Not working | 12.5% | 1 | |
| 10 | Obviously incorrectly positioned | 12.5% | 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 | 10.5% | 23 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 5.5% | 12 | |
| 3 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 4.1% | 9 | |
| 4 | Excessively loose | 1.4% | 3 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.4% | 3 | |
| 6 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.9% | 2 | |
| 7 | Excessively damaged | 0.5% | 1 | |
| 8 | Excessively distorted | 0.5% | 1 | |
| 9 | Has a serious fluid leak | 0.5% | 1 | |
| 10 | Incorrect which adversely affects the handling | 0.5% | 1 |
KTM 890 DUKE R 21 for sale
No KTM 890 DUKE R 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