BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ KTM/450SMR
Model report · 2005–2025

KTM 450SMR

449cc Petrol Class 2
#3686 of 5426 overall #162 of 230 KTMs #2344 of 2787 other bikes
79.5%
first-time pass rate
11.5%
failed outright
2,952
median miles at test
1,339
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The 450SMR's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.4 points since 2006, 85.0% to 80.6%.

62%76%90%2006: 85.0% pass (40 tests)2007: 84.6% pass (65 tests)2008: 76.1% pass (71 tests)2009: 67.1% pass (85 tests)2010: 81.2% pass (85 tests)2011: 71.4% pass (84 tests)2012: 81.9% pass (83 tests)2013: 79.3% pass (87 tests)2014: 77.5% pass (89 tests)2015: 81.0% pass (100 tests)2016: 80.0% pass (80 tests)2017: 77.5% pass (71 tests)2018: 81.5% pass (54 tests)2019: 82.5% pass (63 tests)2020: 80.0% pass (45 tests)2021: 84.4% pass (64 tests)2022: 85.1% pass (47 tests)2023: 85.7% pass (56 tests)2024: 77.8% pass (36 tests)2025: 80.6% pass (31 tests)20062025

What fails on a 450SMR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
167 37.4 1.5×
steering and suspension
59 13.2 1.0×
tyres and wheels
50 11.2 1.3×
reg plates and vin
43 9.6 4.0×
brakes
42 9.4 0.5×
lamps and reflectors
38 8.5 1.0×
drive system
17 3.8 1.3×
Identification of the vehicle
11 2.5 3.6×
suspension
10 2.2 0.7×
structure and attachments
9 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 450SMR beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests YAMAHA XV535 82.7% pass · 48.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k 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 450SMR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (94.0% pass). Weakest: 2006 (73.7%).

70%84%98%2002: 78.9% pass (76 tests)2003: 78.0% pass (336 tests)2004: 76.3% pass (173 tests)2005: 80.6% pass (175 tests)2006: 73.7% pass (133 tests)2007: 82.9% pass (111 tests)2008: 82.3% pass (96 tests)2009: 94.0% pass (67 tests)2010: 81.6% pass (103 tests)200220062010

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 450SMR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM 450SMR reliable?

The KTM 450SMR is less reliable than average for its class: 79.5% of its 1,339 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3686 of 5426 models.

What does a 450SMR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed 450SMR tests.

What is the best year of 450SMR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2009-registered examples do best (94.0%) and 2006 worst (73.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.