DUCATI S4

916cc Petrol Class 2

#2611 of 5426 overall #148 of 173 DUCATIs #1643 of 2787 other bikes

84.5%

first-time pass rate

7.6%

failed outright

10,476

median miles at test

4,277

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The S4's first-time pass rate has risen 3.9 points since 2005, 87.0% to 90.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the S4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage S4 passes first time 87.5% of the time; by 40k that's 82.2%.

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 S4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	252	37.8	0.9×
brakes	87	13	0.4×
steering and suspension	78	11.7	0.5×
tyres and wheels	75	11.2	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	55	8.2	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	43	6.4	1.1×
reg plates and vin	31	4.6	1.1×
drive system	23	3.4	0.6×
structure and attachments	13	1.9	0.4×
Identification of the vehicle	10	1.5	1.0×

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 S4 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 S4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (94.0% pass). Weakest: 2004 (74.3%).

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 S4 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the DUCATI S4 reliable?

The DUCATI S4 is about average for its class: 84.5% of its 4,277 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2611 of 5426 models.

What does a S4 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 38% of all defects recorded against failed S4 tests.

What is the best year of S4 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (94.0%) and 2004 worst (74.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a S4 last?

The median S4 shows 10,476 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.