The good news is that, over the last five years, the number of motorcycles taking an annual MOT test has increased by more than 40,000, meaning more business for dealers with MOT stations. In tandem, fewer bikes are failing the test, with the rate dropping from 16.7% to 14.0%, indicating that bikes are generally better looked after and maintained to a higher standard.
According to DVSA data the most frequent cause of failure is lamps and reflectors, while the least common is operation of the horn. Over the five years covered, the proportion of failures for suspension and braking issues has increased while defects with the horn and, more importantly, tyres have decreased.