DUCATI M821

821cc Petrol Class 2

#1448 of 5426 overall #82 of 173 DUCATIs #881 of 2787 other bikes

88.5%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

5,224

median miles at test

1,907

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2020–2025

The M821's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.8 points since 2020, 90.5% to 87.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the M821's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage M821 passes first time 89.4% of the time; by 20k that's 87.5%.

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 M821

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	98	53.6	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	39	21.3	1.2×
structure and attachments	14	7.7	1.1×
suspension	11	6	0.7×
tyres	9	4.9	0.6×
Identification of the vehicle	7	3.8	1.6×
audible warning (Horn)	4	2.2	1.1×
steering	1	0.5	0.1×

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 M821 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

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

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 M821.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2020 (90.2% pass). Weakest: 2018 (87.5%).

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 M821 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the DUCATI M821 reliable?

The DUCATI M821 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.5% of its 1,907 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1448 of 5426 models.

What does a M821 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 54% of all defects recorded against failed M821 tests.

What is the best year of M821 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2020-registered examples do best (90.2%) and 2018 worst (87.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a M821 last?

The median M821 shows 5,224 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 87.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.