KTM 990 ADVENTURE MOT pass rate and common failures

KTM 990 ADVENTURE motorcycles pass the MOT 82.52% of the time, measured across 246 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.91% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.4 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 82.52% 203 of 246
Fixed at the station 6.91% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 33,347 miles
Average age at test 17.08 years old
Engine 998cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 KTM 990 ADVENTURE 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 53.8% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing 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 (8.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 33,347 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
11-15 years 82.76% 58
16+ years 82.45% 188

Why the KTM 990 ADVENTURE 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 53.8% 14
2 Missing 23.1% 6
3 Does not conform to the specified requirements 15.4% 4
4 The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% 15.4% 4
5 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 11.5% 3
6 Has a major leak of exhaust gases 11.5% 3
7 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 11.5% 3
8 Insecure 11.5% 3
9 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 7.7% 2
10 Effort inadequate at a wheel 7.7% 2

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 8.5% 21
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4.9% 12
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 4.5% 11
4 Spoke excessively corroded 2% 5
5 Tread not clearly visible 2% 5
6 Worn to excess 2% 5
7 Excessively binding 1.6% 4
8 Excessively distorted 1.6% 4
9 Excessively stiff or notchy 1.6% 4
10 Significantly and obviously worn 1.6% 4

KTM 990 ADVENTURE for sale

No KTM 990 ADVENTURE 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 R1200 · 1,170cc 9,521 94.43% 28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc 8,445 91.96% 15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc 6,764 96.17% 17,373

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

KTM 990 ADVENTURE MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the KTM 990 ADVENTURE?+
82.52% of KTM 990 ADVENTURE MOT tests end in a pass, based on 246 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a KTM 990 ADVENTURE?+
Not working, which appears in 53.8% of failed tests on this model.
Does the KTM 990 ADVENTURE get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 16+ years old the pass rate is 82.45%, against 82.76% for examples 11-15 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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