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Ducati 749 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ducati 749 S car check

Is the Ducati 749 S reliable? We analysed 1,704 real MOT tests across 159 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,704 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.2%
Typical Mileage
10,057mi
Annual Mileage
435mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

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

Ducati 749 S Number Plates

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

Ducati 749 S MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

85.5%
2006
85.3%
2005
84.5%
2004
83.1%
2003
77.9%
2002

Ducati 749 S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

reflector on motorcycle missing 29
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 18
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 16
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 11
Headlamp aim too low 10
Registration plate incorrect 9
Direction indicator not working 9
Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height 8
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 7

Ducati 749 S Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
134 mi/yr
Typical
435 mi/yr
Average
800 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,092 mi/yr

Ducati 749 S MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2006 110 85.5% 4,906 8,860 14,160
2005 382 85.3% 5,771 9,720 13,583
2004 414 84.5% 5,986 10,088 16,331
2003 685 83.1% 5,470 10,472 14,481
2002 68 77.9% 8,128 9,946 12,126

How Long Does a Ducati 749 S Last?

Based on 159 Ducati 749 S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.2 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Ducati 749 S Mileage Distribution

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

Median
10,057 mi
75th Percentile
14,578 mi
95th Percentile
22,150 mi
Max Recorded
37,556 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ducati 749 S

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

Best year
2006

85.5% MOT pass rate from 110 tests

Year to avoid
2002

77.9% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

The best year to buy a used Ducati 749 S is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.5% across 110 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.9% — 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 S Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ducati 749 S THIS CAR 84.2% 1,704 10,057 mi 24 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
Vauxhall Mokka Elite Premium Turbo 89.2% 2,601 23,044 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Ducati 749 S?

The Ducati 749 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.2% across 1,704 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 S are reflector on motorcycle missing (29 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (18), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (16). 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 S owner drives around 435 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 S models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ducati 749 S reliable?
Based on 1,704 MOT tests, the Ducati 749 S has a 84.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ducati 749 S?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ducati 749 S do per year?
The typical Ducati 749 S does around 435 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ducati 749 S last?
Most Ducati 749 S models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 159 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ducati 749 S?
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 S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ducati 749 S is 2006 with a 85.5% pass rate across 110 tests.