BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KTM 990 Superduke/vs Triumph Speed Triple
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KTM 990 Superduke vs Triumph Speed Triple

The Triumph Speed Triple passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM 990 Superduke: 85.6% vs 85.3%, a 0.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric KTM 990 Superduke Triumph Speed Triple
First-time pass rate 85.3% 85.6%
Outright fail rate 6.7% 7.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.8 pts -0.2 pts
Engine size 999cc 1,050cc
Rank among all models #2411 of 5428 #2333 of 5428
Median miles at test 11,588 12,419
MOT tests analysed 4,534 74,618
Most common failure lighting and signalling 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 Superduke Triumph Speed Triple
Lights & signalling 4.1% 3.2%
Tyres & wheels 1.8% 1.6%
Brakes 1.0% 2.3%
Steering & suspension 0.7% 1.6%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.7%
Fuel & exhaust 0.5% 0.3%
Drive system 0.2% 0.2%

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 Superduke Triumph Speed Triple
2018 89.9% 85.9%
2019 84.7% 85.7%
2020 86.0% 88.2%
2021 87.2% 86.6%
2022 85.7% 87.2%
2023 88.8% 87.3%
2024 88.7% 87.3%
2025 83.4% 87.7%

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 Superduke Triumph Speed Triple
0k-10k miles 85.9% 88.2%
10k-20k miles 85.1% 85.5%
20k-30k miles 84.2% 82.8%
30k-40k miles 87.3% 80.4%

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

KTM 990 Superduke vs Triumph Speed Triple FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM 990 Superduke or the Triumph Speed Triple?

The Triumph Speed Triple passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM 990 Superduke: 85.6% vs 85.3%, a 0.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.8 vs -0.2 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

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

Lights & signalling: 4.1% of KTM 990 Superduke MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.8%).

What does the Triumph Speed Triple fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.2% of Triumph Speed Triple MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.3%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the KTM 990 Superduke or the Triumph Speed Triple?

At 30k-40k miles the KTM 990 Superduke passes first time more often: 87.3% for the KTM 990 Superduke vs 80.4% for the Triumph Speed Triple.

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