BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KTM 990 Adventure/vs Ducati Multistrada
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KTM 990 Adventure vs Ducati Multistrada

The Ducati Multistrada passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM 990 Adventure: 89.9% vs 85.3%, a 4.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric KTM 990 Adventure Ducati Multistrada
First-time pass rate 85.3% 89.9%
Outright fail rate 6.6% 5.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +1.3 pts +3.8 pts
Engine size 999cc 1,198cc
Rank among all models #2411 of 5428 #988 of 5428
Median miles at test 20,878 13,468
MOT tests analysed 5,511 24,822
Most common failure brakes 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 Ducati Multistrada
Lights & signalling 3.3% 2.2%
Brakes 2.2% 1.9%
Steering & suspension 1.3% 1.1%
Tyres & wheels 1.3% 1.1%
Structure & body 0.5% 0.6%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 0.1%
Drive system 0.2% 0.1%

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 Ducati Multistrada
2018 87.7% 89.3%
2019 84.3% 89.8%
2020 85.9% 91.8%
2021 84.5% 91.2%
2022 81.4% 91.3%
2023 84.2% 91.8%
2024 85.6% 90.9%
2025 83.2% 91.0%

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 Ducati Multistrada
0k-10k miles 88.2% 91.7%
10k-20k miles 86.8% 89.6%
20k-30k miles 84.8% 88.0%
30k-40k miles 84.2% 87.0%
40k-50k miles 80.8% 84.9%
50k-60k miles 77.1% 86.0%

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

KTM 990 Adventure vs Ducati Multistrada FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM 990 Adventure or the Ducati Multistrada?

The Ducati Multistrada passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM 990 Adventure: 89.9% vs 85.3%, a 4.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Ducati Multistrada still comes out ahead: +1.3 points vs comparable bikes for the KTM 990 Adventure, +3.8 for the Ducati Multistrada. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

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

Lights & signalling: 3.3% of KTM 990 Adventure MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.2%).

What does the Ducati Multistrada fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.2% of Ducati Multistrada MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.9%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the KTM 990 Adventure or the Ducati Multistrada?

At 50k-60k miles the Ducati Multistrada passes first time more often: 77.1% for the KTM 990 Adventure vs 86.0% for the Ducati Multistrada.

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