BMW R Ninet vs Aprilia Tuono

The BMW R Ninet passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Tuono: 92.7% vs 88.4%, a 4.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	BMW R Ninet	Aprilia Tuono
First-time pass rate	92.7%	88.4%
Outright fail rate	2.6%	5.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+3.8 pts	+2.3 pts
Engine size	1,170cc	998cc
Rank among all models	#344 of 5428	#1478 of 5428
Median miles at test	5,255	11,489
MOT tests analysed	18,334	34,724
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	brakes

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	BMW R Ninet	Aprilia Tuono
Lights & signalling	1.3%	2.5%
Brakes	0.5%	1.5%
Tyres & wheels	0.4%	1.1%
Steering & suspension	0.2%	1.2%
Structure & body	0.2%	0.6%
Drive system	0%	0.3%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.2%

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	BMW R Ninet	Aprilia Tuono
2018	93.3%	88.7%
2019	91.3%	89.4%
2020	92.4%	90.5%
2021	91.1%	90.2%
2022	92.3%	89.9%
2023	92.5%	90.4%
2024	93.4%	91.3%
2025	94.1%	90.3%

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	BMW R Ninet	Aprilia Tuono
0k-10k miles	92.7%	90.7%
10k-20k miles	92.1%	87.2%
20k-30k miles	90.4%	86.2%
30k-40k miles	88.4%	84.6%
40k-50k miles	93.5%	82.1%

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

BMW R Ninet vs Aprilia Tuono FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW R Ninet or the Aprilia Tuono?

The BMW R Ninet passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Tuono: 92.7% vs 88.4%, a 4.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R Ninet still comes out ahead: +3.8 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW R Ninet, +2.3 for the Aprilia Tuono. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW R Ninet fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.3% of BMW R Ninet MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (0.5%).

What does the Aprilia Tuono fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.5% of Aprilia Tuono MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW R Ninet or the Aprilia Tuono?

At 40k-50k miles the BMW R Ninet passes first time more often: 93.5% for the BMW R Ninet vs 82.1% for the Aprilia Tuono.

BMW R nineT 92.7% pass · 18.3k tests APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests

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