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Ducati 749 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ducati 749 car check

Is the Ducati 749 reliable? We analysed 10,480 real MOT tests across 1,010 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 10,480 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.4%
Typical Mileage
9,541mi
Annual Mileage
499mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Ducati 749 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ducati 749.

Ducati 749 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ducati 749. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ducati 749 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ducati 749 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

83.9%
2008
87.9%
2007
86.7%
2006
87.9%
2005
86.2%
2004
84.6%
2003
85.8%
2002

Ducati 749 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ducati 749 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 117
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 117
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 81
Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height 34
Direction indicator not working 30
Headlamp aim too low 30
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 30
Footrest missing 28
Drive chain excessively loose 27
Direction indicators not working 25

Ducati 749 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ducati 749 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
158 mi/yr
Typical
499 mi/yr
Average
887 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,153 mi/yr

Ducati 749 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ducati 749 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 192 83.9% 5,632 9,176 12,504
2007 753 87.9% 4,393 7,997 12,594
2006 1,523 86.7% 5,955 9,592 13,826
2005 2,426 87.9% 6,093 9,730 14,670
2004 3,419 86.2% 5,754 9,418 13,782
2003 1,918 84.6% 6,306 9,791 14,538
2002 106 85.8% 4,608 9,566 13,930

How Long Does a Ducati 749 Last?

Based on 1,010 Ducati 749 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.4 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Ducati 749 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ducati 749 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
9,541 mi
75th Percentile
14,186 mi
95th Percentile
23,228 mi
Max Recorded
101,414 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ducati 749

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2005

87.9% MOT pass rate from 2,426 tests

Year to avoid
2008

83.9% MOT pass rate from 192 tests

The best year to buy a used Ducati 749 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.9% across 2,426 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ducati 749 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ducati 749 THIS CAR 86.4% 10,480 9,541 mi 23 yrs
Ducati Multistrada 90.7% 30,770 13,843 mi 23 yrs
Ducati 748 86.8% 29,046 14,130 mi 31 yrs
Ducati 996 89% 17,371 12,635 mi 29 yrs
Audi Q3 S Line 40 TFSI QUATTRO S-a 93.8% 7,923 27,565 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ducati Multistrada (90.7% pass rate) and the Ducati 748 (86.8% pass rate), the Ducati 749 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ducati 749?

The Ducati 749 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.4% across 10,480 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ducati 749 are reflector on motorcycle missing (117 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (117), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (81). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ducati 749 owner drives around 499 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ducati 749 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ducati 749 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ducati 749 reliable?
Based on 10,480 MOT tests, the Ducati 749 has a 86.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ducati 749?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ducati 749 do per year?
The typical Ducati 749 does around 499 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ducati 749 last?
Most Ducati 749 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 1,010 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ducati 749?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ducati 749?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ducati 749 is 2005 with a 87.9% pass rate across 2,426 tests.