DUCATI ST4S

996cc Petrol Class 2

#1937 of 5426 overall #111 of 173 DUCATIs #1173 of 2787 other bikes

86.9%

first-time pass rate

8.0%

failed outright

17,286

median miles at test

5,237

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The ST4S's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.4 points since 2005, 93.0% to 83.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ST4S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ST4S passes first time 89.6% of the time; by 50k that's 89.8%.

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 ST4S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	185	28.9	0.7×
steering and suspension	144	22.5	0.8×
brakes	77	12	0.3×
tyres and wheels	61	9.5	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	56	8.8	0.5×
drive system	39	6.1	0.7×
suspension	38	5.9	0.8×
reg plates and vin	20	3.1	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	12	1.9	0.3×
steering	8	1.2	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 ST4S 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 ST4S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (89.8% pass). Weakest: 2001 (84.7%).

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 ST4S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the DUCATI ST4S reliable?

The DUCATI ST4S is more reliable than average for its class: 86.9% of its 5,237 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1937 of 5426 models.

What does a ST4S fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed ST4S tests.

What is the best year of ST4S to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (89.8%) and 2001 worst (84.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ST4S last?

The median ST4S shows 17,286 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 89.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.