Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale vs Honda CBR900RR

The Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBR900RR: 93.9% vs 83.2%, a 10.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale	Honda CBR900RR
First-time pass rate	93.9%	83.2%
Outright fail rate	2.5%	9.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+4.2 pts	+0.1 pts
Engine size	1,103cc	918cc
Rank among all models	#183 of 5428	#2911 of 5428
Median miles at test	2,638	22,163
MOT tests analysed	523	165,881
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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	Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale	Honda CBR900RR
Lights & signalling	1.5%	3.9%
Steering & suspension	0.2%	3.6%
Brakes	0%	2.9%
Tyres & wheels	0.4%	2.3%
Structure & body	0.6%	0.7%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.6%
Drive system	0%	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	Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale	Honda CBR900RR
2021	93.7%	86.2%
2022	91.6%	86.6%
2023	95.4%	87.7%
2024	94.8%	87.0%
2025	93.9%	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	Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale	Honda CBR900RR
0k-10k miles	94.1%	88.6%
10k-20k miles	93.3%	85.5%

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

Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale vs Honda CBR900RR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale or the Honda CBR900RR?

The Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBR900RR: 93.9% vs 83.2%, a 10.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale still comes out ahead: +4.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale, +0.1 for the Honda CBR900RR. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.5% of Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale MOT tests failed on it, then structure & body (0.6%).

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%).

DUCATI PANIGALE V4 SPECIALE 93.9% pass · 523 tests HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests

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