BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KTM 640 Duke Ii/vs Honda CB600 Hornet
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KTM 640 Duke Ii vs Honda CB600 Hornet

The KTM 640 Duke Ii passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600 Hornet: 80.6% vs 78.6%, a 2.0-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric KTM 640 Duke Ii Honda CB600 Hornet
First-time pass rate 80.6% 78.6%
Outright fail rate 9.9% 12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -6.5 pts -4.8 pts
Engine size 625cc 599cc
Rank among all models #3459 of 5428 #3832 of 5428
Median miles at test 8,889 20,837
MOT tests analysed 4,182 26,392
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 KTM 640 Duke Ii Honda CB600 Hornet
Lights & signalling 6.0% 5.8%
Brakes 1.5% 4.6%
Steering & suspension 2.2% 3.6%
Tyres & wheels 2.2% 3.0%
Drive system 1.1% 1.2%
Structure & body 0.5% 0.9%
Fuel & exhaust 0.7% 0.6%

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 KTM 640 Duke Ii Honda CB600 Hornet
2018 82.3% 77.8%
2019 80.6% 78.9%
2020 81.2% 78.7%
2021 72.5% 80.2%
2022 83.2% 80.9%
2023 87.8% 77.5%
2024 84.1% 79.9%
2025 84.0% 81.3%

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 KTM 640 Duke Ii Honda CB600 Hornet
0k-10k miles 83.3% 85.2%
10k-20k miles 78.0% 80.8%
20k-30k miles 74.8% 77.0%
30k-40k miles 65.1% 74.9%

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

KTM 640 Duke Ii vs Honda CB600 Hornet FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM 640 Duke Ii or the Honda CB600 Hornet?

The KTM 640 Duke Ii passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600 Hornet: 80.6% vs 78.6%, a 2.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CB600 Hornet still comes out ahead: -6.5 points vs comparable bikes for the KTM 640 Duke Ii, -4.8 for the Honda CB600 Hornet. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the KTM 640 Duke Ii fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.0% of KTM 640 Duke Ii MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.2%).

What does the Honda CB600 Hornet fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 5.8% of Honda CB600 Hornet MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (4.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the KTM 640 Duke Ii or the Honda CB600 Hornet?

At 30k-40k miles the Honda CB600 Hornet passes first time more often: 65.1% for the KTM 640 Duke Ii vs 74.9% for the Honda CB600 Hornet.

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