KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21

1301cc Petrol Class 2

#19 of 5426 overall #1 of 230 KTMs #2 of 99 adventure bikes

96.2%

first-time pass rate

2.6%

failed outright

10,647

median miles at test

735

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2024–2025

The 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2024 (96.8% → 96.2%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 passes first time 98.2% of the time; by 20k that's 92.0%.

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 21

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	7	30.4	0.2×
structure and attachments	5	21.7	0.8×
suspension	4	17.4	0.7×
tyres	4	17.4	0.8×
Identification of the vehicle	2	8.7	1.2×
wheels	1	4.3	2.3×

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 21 beats 4 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 21.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2022 (97.4% pass). Weakest: 2021 (96.0%).

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 21 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 reliable?

The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 is more reliable than average for its class: 96.2% of its 735 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #19 of 5426 models.

What does a 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 30% of all defects recorded against failed 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 tests.

How many miles will a 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 last?

The median 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S 21 shows 10,647 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 92.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.