BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
Model report · 2005–2025

KTM EXC

300cc Petrol Class 2
#4431 of 5426 overall #214 of 230 KTMs #2711 of 2787 other bikes
73.7%
first-time pass rate
13.9%
failed outright
2,674
median miles at test
5,084
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The EXC's first-time pass rate has risen 8.8 points since 2005, 69.2% to 78.0%.

63%75%86%2005: 69.2% pass (39 tests)2006: 76.8% pass (224 tests)2007: 79.2% pass (240 tests)2008: 70.4% pass (270 tests)2009: 71.9% pass (295 tests)2010: 73.0% pass (304 tests)2011: 66.7% pass (321 tests)2012: 70.6% pass (337 tests)2013: 69.8% pass (378 tests)2014: 72.0% pass (375 tests)2015: 67.9% pass (361 tests)2016: 73.0% pass (304 tests)2017: 75.9% pass (286 tests)2018: 75.1% pass (185 tests)2019: 76.2% pass (172 tests)2020: 78.3% pass (184 tests)2021: 80.3% pass (198 tests)2022: 80.4% pass (209 tests)2023: 82.4% pass (170 tests)2024: 80.5% pass (123 tests)2025: 78.0% pass (109 tests)20052025

What fails on a EXC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
810 38.8 2.0×
steering and suspension
384 18.4 1.7×
tyres and wheels
245 11.7 1.8×
brakes
160 7.7 0.6×
reg plates and vin
158 7.6 4.3×
lamps and reflectors
128 6.1 0.9×
suspension
76 3.6 1.5×
drive system
65 3.1 1.2×
structure and attachments
32 1.5 0.7×
tyres
31 1.5 0.7×

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 EXC beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI AN400, YAMAHA RD350, YAMAHA YP250).

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 EXC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (79.6% pass). Weakest: 1998 (66.0%).

63%73%82%1998: 66.0% pass (50 tests)1999: 72.2% pass (158 tests)2000: 72.0% pass (161 tests)2001: 74.9% pass (514 tests)2002: 73.7% pass (833 tests)2003: 73.2% pass (827 tests)2004: 72.3% pass (495 tests)2005: 74.2% pass (384 tests)2006: 75.8% pass (380 tests)2007: 72.5% pass (316 tests)2008: 66.7% pass (171 tests)2009: 75.9% pass (216 tests)2010: 75.2% pass (218 tests)2011: 79.6% pass (191 tests)2012: 76.5% pass (81 tests)199820052012

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 EXC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM EXC reliable?

The KTM EXC is less reliable than average for its class: 73.7% of its 5,084 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4431 of 5426 models.

What does a EXC fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 39% of all defects recorded against failed EXC tests.

What is the best year of EXC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (79.6%) and 1998 worst (66.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.