DUCATI S4 RS

998cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #88 of 173 DUCATIs #915 of 2787 other bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

4.8%

failed outright

7,607

median miles at test

665

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2019

The S4 RS's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.7 points since 2009, 97.6% to 87.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage S4 RS passes first time 88.3% of the time; by 20k that's 88.4%.

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 RS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	16	30.2	0.5×
reg plates and vin	9	17	1.8×
lighting and signalling	8	15.1	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	4	7.5	0.8×
steering and suspension	4	7.5	0.1×
suspension	3	5.7	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	3	5.7	0.2×
tyres and wheels	3	5.7	0.2×
structure and attachments	2	3.8	0.4×
wheels	1	1.9	2.5×

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 RS beats 2 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 RS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (91.3% pass). Weakest: 2006 (86.8%).

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 RS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the DUCATI S4 RS reliable?

The DUCATI S4 RS is more reliable than average for its class: 88.3% of its 665 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1506 of 5426 models.

What does a S4 RS fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 30% of all defects recorded against failed S4 RS tests.

What is the best year of S4 RS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (91.3%) and 2006 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a S4 RS last?

The median S4 RS shows 7,607 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 88.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.