Ducati 899 vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The Ducati 899 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 88.9% vs 86.7%, a 2.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Ducati 899	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	88.9%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	5.1%	8.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+1.3 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	898cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#1305 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	7,946	26,212
MOT tests analysed	5,141	89,421
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	Ducati 899	Honda VFR800 Fi
Lights & signalling	2.5%	2.4%
Brakes	0.7%	3.2%
Steering & suspension	1.0%	2.6%
Tyres & wheels	0.9%	2.3%
Structure & body	0.5%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.5%
Drive system	0.0%	0.4%

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	Ducati 899	Honda VFR800 Fi
2018	88.5%	86.1%
2019	89.4%	86.6%
2020	90.1%	87.0%
2021	88.8%	87.3%
2022	87.1%	87.1%
2023	90.8%	88.9%
2024	88.2%	88.9%
2025	89.0%	88.2%

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	Ducati 899	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	90.3%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	87.1%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	84.2%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	88.5%	85.5%

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

Ducati 899 vs Honda VFR800 Fi FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ducati 899 or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

The Ducati 899 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 88.9% vs 86.7%, a 2.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda VFR800 Fi still comes out ahead: +1.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Ducati 899, +4.5 for the Honda VFR800 Fi. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Ducati 899 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.5% of Ducati 899 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.0%).

What does the Honda VFR800 Fi fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.2% of Honda VFR800 Fi MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Ducati 899 or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

At 30k-40k miles the Ducati 899 passes first time more often: 88.5% for the Ducati 899 vs 85.5% for the Honda VFR800 Fi.

DUCATI 899 88.9% pass · 5,141 tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

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