Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Aprilia Rsv?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1999 Aprilia Rsv?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1999 Aprilia Rsv?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1999 Aprilia Rsv reliable?

Based on MOT data from 347 vehicles, the 1999 Aprilia Rsv has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Aprilia Rsv?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Aprilia Rsv are: Exhaust noisy (68.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.7% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1999 Aprilia Rsv?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Aprilia Rsv (1999)

347 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.7% first-time pass rate

1999 Aprilia Rsv

CarHunch analysed 347 real MOT records for the 1999 Aprilia Rsv. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 347 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1999 Aprilia RSV passes its MOT first time at 85.7%, which is a solid 5.7 percentage points above the UK average—a genuinely reassuring figure for a bike now 25 years old. The dangerous defect rate of 14.4% is moderate and not a major red flag, though it's worth factoring into your inspection checklist.

These RSVs are running with typical mileage for their age at around 22,400 miles on average, suggesting they've been used rather than left to corrode in sheds. With an average of 1.62 failures and 5.0 advisories per test, you're looking at the sort of wear-and-tear issues common to middling-condition sportbikes of this era—nothing catastrophic, but plan for some maintenance work before you ride one home.

The 1999 Aprilia Rsv passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (85.7% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

85.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.62

Over 10.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

21k

Middle half: 15k–29k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 347 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 347 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 68.6%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 61.7%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 32.1%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Headlamp aim too high · Drive chain slightly loose · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Brake wear 27.5%

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 21.4%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Rear suspension bush has slight free play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 9.5%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 347 Aprilia Rsv cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Aprilia Rsv

Based on MOT data from 347 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,611 Aprilia Rsv vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 50.9%

4,380

Red 15.9%

1,367

Silver 13.5%

1,164

Multi-colour 5.6%

484

Yellow 4.8%

413

White 4.5%

387

Grey 2.6%

222

Blue 2%

169

Orange 0.2%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Aprilia Rsv vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

21,249

typical

15,313

low mileage

28,866

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Aprilia Rsv vehicles fall between 15,313 and 28,866 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,313 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 15,313–28,866 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Aprilia Rsvs sit.

⚠ Over 38,969 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Aprilia Rsv — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 47% of 1999 Aprilia Rsvs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 69 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (47% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.62

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Aprilia Rsv: All Rsv years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019

Or browse all models: Aprilia →

Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Aprilia Rsv stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?