BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KTM Super Duke 990/vs Honda CB1300
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KTM Super Duke 990 vs Honda CB1300

The Honda CB1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM Super Duke 990: 89.3% vs 86.7%, a 2.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric KTM Super Duke 990 Honda CB1300
First-time pass rate 86.7% 89.3%
Outright fail rate 6.0% 5.0%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +0.7 pts +4.5 pts
Engine size 999cc 1,284cc
Rank among all models #1985 of 5428 #1180 of 5428
Median miles at test 12,261 15,887
MOT tests analysed 6,217 25,878
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 Super Duke 990 Honda CB1300
Lights & signalling 2.8% 1.6%
Brakes 1.4% 1.4%
Tyres & wheels 1.3% 1.5%
Steering & suspension 1.0% 1.5%
Structure & body 0.5% 0.2%
Fuel & exhaust 0.3% 0.2%
Drive system 0.1% 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 Super Duke 990 Honda CB1300
2018 90.1% 89.7%
2019 87.1% 89.7%
2020 88.6% 89.5%
2021 88.7% 88.7%
2022 87.8% 89.5%
2023 86.2% 89.2%
2024 85.5% 90.4%
2025 90.4% 90.4%

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 Super Duke 990 Honda CB1300
0k-10k miles 86.6% 91.9%
10k-20k miles 86.8% 90.2%
20k-30k miles 88.1% 87.8%
30k-40k miles 86.1% 84.9%
40k-50k miles 79.1% 84.8%
50k-60k miles 80.0% 82.9%

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

KTM Super Duke 990 vs Honda CB1300 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM Super Duke 990 or the Honda CB1300?

The Honda CB1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the KTM Super Duke 990: 89.3% vs 86.7%, a 2.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CB1300 still comes out ahead: +0.7 points vs comparable bikes for the KTM Super Duke 990, +4.5 for the Honda CB1300. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the KTM Super Duke 990 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.8% of KTM Super Duke 990 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.4%).

What does the Honda CB1300 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.6% of Honda CB1300 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the KTM Super Duke 990 or the Honda CB1300?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda CB1300 passes first time more often: 80.0% for the KTM Super Duke 990 vs 82.9% for the Honda CB1300.

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