DUCATI SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED

803cc Petrol Class 2

#1448 of 5426 overall #82 of 173 DUCATIs #68 of 99 adventure bikes

88.5%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

4,210

median miles at test

2,364

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.2 points since 2020, 90.8% to 88.6%.

What fails on a SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	130	52.2	2.4×
brakes	39	15.7	0.3×
Identification of the vehicle	26	10.4	4.8×
structure and attachments	22	8.8	1.0×
suspension	14	5.6	0.7×
tyres	8	3.2	0.4×
steering	6	2.4	0.6×
audible warning (Horn)	4	1.6	0.9×

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 SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH TIGER, HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin, TRIUMPH TIGER 800).

TRIUMPH TIGER 89.6% pass · 161k tests HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin 95.3% pass · 21.7k tests TRIUMPH TIGER 800 91.6% pass · 6,797 tests TRIUMPH ADVENTURER 85.1% pass · 6,067 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 SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (91.0% pass). Weakest: 2019 (84.4%).

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 SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the DUCATI SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED reliable?

The DUCATI SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED is more reliable than average for its class: 88.5% of its 2,364 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1448 of 5426 models.

What does a SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 52% of all defects recorded against failed SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED tests.

What is the best year of SCRAMBLER DESERT SLED to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2018-registered examples do best (91.0%) and 2019 worst (84.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.