BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ DUCATI/750SS
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

DUCATI 750SS

748cc Petrol Class 2
#2120 of 5428 overall #119 of 173 DUCATIs #1302 of 2788 other bikes
86.3%
first-time pass rate
7.9%
failed outright
18,946
median miles at test
1,235
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+2.3pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The 750SS's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (89.7% → 89.2%).

77%85%94%2006: 89.7% pass (107 tests)2007: 84.1% pass (107 tests)2008: 90.7% pass (97 tests)2009: 82.3% pass (79 tests)2010: 84.3% pass (83 tests)2011: 82.9% pass (82 tests)2012: 84.1% pass (69 tests)2013: 80.0% pass (80 tests)2014: 84.5% pass (71 tests)2015: 83.8% pass (74 tests)2016: 83.6% pass (61 tests)2017: 81.0% pass (58 tests)2018: 90.0% pass (30 tests)2019: 90.3% pass (31 tests)2021: 90.0% pass (40 tests)2022: 90.9% pass (33 tests)2023: 89.2% pass (37 tests)20062023

Pass rate by mileage

how the 750SS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 750SS passes first time 85.5% of the time; by 40k that's 83.3%.

82%87%92%0k: 85.5% pass (193 tests)10k: 85.7% pass (474 tests)20k: 86.0% pass (358 tests)30k: 90.4% pass (146 tests)40k: 83.3% pass (30 tests)0k20k40k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 750SS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
steering and suspension
61 32.4 1.2×
lighting and signalling
53 28.2 0.7×
brakes
25 13.3 0.4×
tyres and wheels
18 9.6 0.7×
lamps and reflectors
8 4.3 0.4×
drive system
7 3.7 0.6×
fuel and exhaust
5 2.7 0.5×
body and structure
4 2.1 0.5×
structure and attachments
4 2.1 0.4×
reg plates and vin
3 1.6 0.4×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 750SS beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 750SS.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the 750SS

More DUCATI models

other DUCATI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
DUCATI 748 84.9% pass · 24.8k tests
DUCATI MULTISTRADA 89.9% pass · 24.8k tests
DUCATI 996 87.7% pass · 15.1k tests
DUCATI 916 87.0% pass · 13.6k tests
DUCATI 900 87.8% pass · 12.4k tests
DUCATI M 86.3% pass · 9,621 tests

See all DUCATI models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Highest pass rate: 1998 (92.9%). Lowest: 2000 (76.8%). Every 750SS year compared →

74%85%96%1991: 87.6% pass (113 tests)1992: 88.7% pass (115 tests)1993: 88.4% pass (190 tests)1994: 83.5% pass (127 tests)1995: 81.8% pass (121 tests)1997: 87.7% pass (73 tests)1998: 92.9% pass (168 tests)1999: 88.0% pass (92 tests)2000: 76.8% pass (69 tests)199119952000

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

DUCATI 750SS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the DUCATI 750SS reliable?

The DUCATI 750SS is about average for its class: 86.3% of its 1,235 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2120 of 5428 models.

What does a 750SS fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension: 32% of all defects recorded against failed 750SS tests.

What is the best year of 750SS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (92.9%) and 2000 worst (76.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 750SS last?

The median 750SS shows 18,946 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 83.3% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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