BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ MOTO GUZZI/V9 BOBBER
Model report · 2005–2025

MOTO GUZZI V9 BOBBER

853cc Petrol Class 2
#1818 of 5428 overall #35 of 69 MOTO GUZZIs #363 of 465 cruiser bikes
87.3%
first-time pass rate
4.7%
failed outright
4,019
median miles at test
716
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-2.3pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2019–2025

The V9 BOBBER's first-time pass rate has risen 2.9 points since 2019, 87.1% to 90.0%.

80%86%92%2019: 87.1% pass (31 tests)2020: 90.1% pass (81 tests)2021: 82.4% pass (102 tests)2022: 87.7% pass (122 tests)2023: 85.0% pass (133 tests)2024: 88.8% pass (116 tests)2025: 90.0% pass (130 tests)20192025

What fails on a V9 BOBBER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
22 40.7 1.5×
brakes
10 18.5 0.2×
Identification of the vehicle
9 16.7 5.4×
audible warning (Horn)
5 9.3 3.8×
structure and attachments
4 7.4 0.6×
suspension
2 3.7 0.4×
tyres
2 3.7 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 V9 BOBBER beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 V9 BOBBER.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the V9 Bobber

More MOTO GUZZI models

other MOTO GUZZI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 85.9% pass · 14.8k tests
MOTO GUZZI BREVA 87.3% pass · 9,332 tests
MOTO GUZZI V7 90.0% pass · 5,084 tests
MOTO GUZZI GRISO 90.1% pass · 5,012 tests
MOTO GUZZI V11 86.8% pass · 3,514 tests
MOTO GUZZI LE MANS 87.9% pass · 3,016 tests

See all MOTO GUZZI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (88.9% pass). Weakest: 2016 (85.4%).

85%87%90%2016: 85.4% pass (254 tests)2017: 86.6% pass (187 tests)2018: 88.9% pass (117 tests)2019: 88.4% pass (86 tests)201620182019

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.

MOTO GUZZI V9 BOBBER FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MOTO GUZZI V9 BOBBER reliable?

The MOTO GUZZI V9 BOBBER is more reliable than average for its class: 87.3% of its 716 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1818 of 5428 models.

What does a V9 BOBBER fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 41% of all defects recorded against failed V9 BOBBER tests.

What is the best year of V9 BOBBER to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2018-registered examples do best (88.9%) and 2016 worst (85.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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