KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18

1301cc Petrol Class 2

#314 of 5426 overall #10 of 230 KTMs #30 of 99 adventure bikes

92.9%

first-time pass rate

3.0%

failed outright

12,084

median miles at test

1,527

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2021 (93.1% → 93.2%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 passes first time 93.0% of the time; by 30k that's 88.5%.

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 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	26	33.8	0.5×
brakes	19	24.7	0.3×
suspension	13	16.9	1.0×
tyres	9	11.7	0.9×
structure and attachments	4	5.2	0.4×
audible warning (Horn)	2	2.6	0.7×
steering	2	2.6	0.3×
wheels	1	1.3	1.1×
Identification of the vehicle	1	1.3	0.3×

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 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH TIGER, DUCATI MULTISTRADA, HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin).

TRIUMPH TIGER 89.6% pass · 161k tests DUCATI MULTISTRADA 89.9% pass · 24.8k tests HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin 95.3% pass · 21.7k tests TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 87.3% pass · 14.0k 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 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (93.3% pass). Weakest: 2019 (91.7%).

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.

KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 reliable?

The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 is more reliable than average for its class: 92.9% of its 1,527 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #314 of 5426 models.

What does a 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 34% of all defects recorded against failed 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 tests.

How many miles will a 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 last?

The median 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 18 shows 12,084 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 88.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.