BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Aprilia RSV/vs Honda CBR900RR
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia RSV vs Honda CBR900RR

The Aprilia RSV passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBR900RR: 85.0% vs 83.2%, a 1.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia RSV Honda CBR900RR
First-time pass rate 85.0% 83.2%
Outright fail rate 8.3% 9.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.4 pts +0.1 pts
Engine size 998cc 918cc
Rank among all models #2491 of 5428 #2911 of 5428
Median miles at test 13,360 22,163
MOT tests analysed 61,254 165,881
Most common failure lighting and signalling lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Aprilia RSV Honda CBR900RR
Lights & signalling 4.0% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 2.2% 3.6%
Brakes 2.4% 2.9%
Tyres & wheels 1.6% 2.3%
Structure & body 0.5% 0.7%
Fuel & exhaust 0.5% 0.6%
Drive system 0.4% 0.5%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Aprilia RSV Honda CBR900RR
2018 86.7% 84.7%
2019 86.5% 84.8%
2020 87.5% 85.5%
2021 86.8% 86.2%
2022 88.2% 86.6%
2023 89.0% 87.7%
2024 88.7% 87.0%
2025 89.5% 88.8%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Aprilia RSV Honda CBR900RR
0k-10k miles 88.0% 88.6%
10k-20k miles 85.0% 85.5%
20k-30k miles 82.5% 81.9%
30k-40k miles 80.5% 80.6%
40k-50k miles 76.6% 79.7%
50k-60k miles 74.9% 78.8%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Aprilia RSV vs Honda CBR900RR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia RSV or the Honda CBR900RR?

The Aprilia RSV passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBR900RR: 85.0% vs 83.2%, a 1.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.4 vs +0.1 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia RSV fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.0% of Aprilia RSV MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.4%).

What does the Honda CBR900RR fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.9% of Honda CBR900RR MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (3.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia RSV or the Honda CBR900RR?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda CBR900RR passes first time more often: 74.9% for the Aprilia RSV vs 78.8% for the Honda CBR900RR.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.