KTM SUPER DUKE 990

999cc Petrol Class 2

#1986 of 5426 overall #64 of 230 KTMs #89 of 205 naked bikes

86.7%

first-time pass rate

6.0%

failed outright

12,261

median miles at test

6,217

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The SUPER DUKE 990's first-time pass rate has risen 1.5 points since 2008, 88.9% to 90.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SUPER DUKE 990's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SUPER DUKE 990 passes first time 86.6% of the time; by 50k that's 80.0%.

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 SUPER DUKE 990

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	151	23.3	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	110	17	0.7×
brakes	105	16.2	0.3×
reg plates and vin	73	11.3	1.3×
tyres and wheels	65	10	0.5×
steering and suspension	38	5.9	0.2×
tyres	29	4.5	0.6×
structure and attachments	28	4.3	0.4×
suspension	27	4.2	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	22	3.4	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 SUPER DUKE 990 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE, APRILIA TUONO, HONDA CB1300).

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 85.6% pass · 74.6k tests APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests HONDA CB1300 89.3% pass · 25.9k tests TRIUMPH TRIDENT 85.0% pass · 23.9k 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 SUPER DUKE 990.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (90.2% pass). Weakest: 2006 (85.1%).

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 SUPER DUKE 990 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KTM SUPER DUKE 990 reliable?

The KTM SUPER DUKE 990 is about average for its class: 86.7% of its 6,217 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1986 of 5426 models.

What does a SUPER DUKE 990 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 23% of all defects recorded against failed SUPER DUKE 990 tests.

What is the best year of SUPER DUKE 990 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (90.2%) and 2006 worst (85.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SUPER DUKE 990 last?

The median SUPER DUKE 990 shows 12,261 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 80.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.