Ktm
1290
1,380 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 1290s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 13.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
91.3%
Pass-after-fix
3.4%
Fail
5.1%
Avg miles
17,150
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
1290: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 939 MOT tests, the 1290 returns 89.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is uneven braking force. Tyre tread under the limit and a non-conforming number plate round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 16,170, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
9 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 02
Headlamp ‘on’ switch does not operate in accordance with the requirements
9 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 03
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
9 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
8 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
8 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 06
Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 07
Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
A mandatory tell-tale for direction indicators missing or inoperative
4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 09
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£85–£210
If every one of this 1290's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping a 1290?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 1290 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.