KTM 990 Adventure R vs Triumph Tiger 1050

The Triumph Tiger 1050 passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM 990 Adventure R: 87.3% vs 86.5%, a 0.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	KTM 990 Adventure R	Triumph Tiger 1050
First-time pass rate	86.5%	87.3%
Outright fail rate	6.8%	7.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+1.7 pts	+2.9 pts
Engine size	1,000cc	1,050cc
Rank among all models	#2052 of 5428	#1818 of 5428
Median miles at test	17,162	18,584
MOT tests analysed	1,068	13,990
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	KTM 990 Adventure R	Triumph Tiger 1050
Lights & signalling	3.7%	2.5%
Brakes	1.6%	2.9%
Steering & suspension	1.6%	1.7%
Tyres & wheels	1.1%	1.4%
Structure & body	0.7%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.4%	0.2%
Drive system	0.1%	0.3%

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 990 Adventure R	Triumph Tiger 1050
2018	88.3%	87.6%
2019	81.7%	86.4%
2020	84.1%	87.2%
2021	92.1%	86.5%
2022	81.9%	88.1%
2023	85.2%	86.9%
2024	81.4%	88.3%
2025	84.7%	86.2%

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	KTM 990 Adventure R	Triumph Tiger 1050
0k-10k miles	87.2%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	88.3%	88.8%
20k-30k miles	84.5%	86.5%
30k-40k miles	84.1%	84.7%
40k-50k miles	88.9%	81.0%

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

KTM 990 Adventure R vs Triumph Tiger 1050 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM 990 Adventure R or the Triumph Tiger 1050?

The Triumph Tiger 1050 passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM 990 Adventure R: 87.3% vs 86.5%, a 0.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Triumph Tiger 1050 still comes out ahead: +1.7 points vs comparable bikes for the KTM 990 Adventure R, +2.9 for the Triumph Tiger 1050. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the KTM 990 Adventure R fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.7% of KTM 990 Adventure R MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.6%).

What does the Triumph Tiger 1050 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.9% of Triumph Tiger 1050 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the KTM 990 Adventure R or the Triumph Tiger 1050?

At 40k-50k miles the KTM 990 Adventure R passes first time more often: 88.9% for the KTM 990 Adventure R vs 81.0% for the Triumph Tiger 1050.

KTM 990 ADVENTURE R 86.5% pass · 1,068 tests TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 87.3% pass · 14.0k tests

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