KTM 500
Real ownership data from 247 UK 500 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common 500 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | major | 8% |
| Lights and indicators | fail | 5.5% |
| Brake discs and pads | dangerous | 5.5% |
| Suspension | major | 4.2% |
| Brakes | dangerous | 2.5% |
| Wheels | major | 2.1% |
| Chain and sprockets | major | 2.1% |
| Steering and head bearings | dangerous | 1.7% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is other.
500 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 39 | 3,470 mi | 376 | 86.14% |
| 2015 | 63 | 4,394 mi | 317 | 83.39% |
| 2014 | 83 | 4,778 mi | 365 | 86.61% |
| 2013 | 35 | 4,694 mi | 356 | 83.33% |
| 2012 | 9 | 4,678 mi | 438 | 82.93% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4,404 mi | 119 | 78.95% |
500 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the KTM 500?
Across 247 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are electrical (8% of all recorded faults), lights and indicators (5.5% of all recorded faults), brake discs and pads (5.5% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a KTM 500?
The median KTM 500 in the UK has covered 4,405 miles, and typically rides about 365 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 2,210 and 6,496 miles.
Is the KTM 500 reliable?
85.1% of KTM 500 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.18 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 247 KTM 500 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.