Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Aprilia Sl1000?

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 2004 Aprilia Sl1000?

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 2004 Aprilia Sl1000?

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 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 148 vehicles, the 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Aprilia Sl1000?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.7% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (60.2% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.4% 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 2004 Aprilia Sl1000?

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 Sl1000 (2004)

148 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.9% first-time pass rate

2004 Aprilia Sl1000

CarHunch analysed 148 real MOT records for the 2004 Aprilia Sl1000. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2004 Aprilia SL1000 passes its MOT first time at 86.9%, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes have held up reasonably well over two decades. However, 14.2% have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is moderate but worth noting if you're buying used.

At just under 18,000 miles on average, these are fairly low-mileage machines for their age, which explains the decent pass rate—but the 1.78 failures per vehicle and 5.5 advisories per vehicle indicate wear and maintenance gaps are starting to show. Before committing to a purchase, get a pre-buy inspection done by a Triumph-experienced mechanic, as older sportbikes with light use can hide deferred maintenance issues.

We have limited data for the 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

86.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.78

Over 12.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 11k–24k

For context

These stats describe 148 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 148 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 71.7%

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.

Exhaust & emissions 60.2%

Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 49.1%

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

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

Lighting 32%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp masks/converters fitted · Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside · …

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

Other issues 19.7%

Horn not working

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 148 Aprilia Sl1000 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Aprilia Sl1000

Based on MOT data from 148 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.2% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	147	86.8%	1.79

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 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.

16,680

typical

11,084

low mileage

23,597

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 vehicles fall between 11,084 and 23,597 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,084 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.

✓ 11,084–23,597 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Aprilia Sl1000s sit.

⚠ Over 31,855 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Aprilia Sl1000 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 60% of 2004 Aprilia Sl1000s are still active.

53 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 60% of the peak remain.

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

12.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.78

Avg failures per vehicle

5.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Aprilia Sl1000: All Sl1000 years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2005

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Aprilia Sl1000 stacks up against a rival.

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