Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Ducati St4s?

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 2002 Ducati St4s?

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 2002 Ducati St4s?

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 2002 Ducati St4s reliable?

Based on MOT data from 163 vehicles, the 2002 Ducati St4s has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Ducati St4s?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Ducati St4s are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.7% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (41.5% of vehicles), Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (34.9% 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 2002 Ducati St4s?

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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Ducati St4s (2002)

163 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.3% first-time pass rate

2002 Ducati St4s

CarHunch analysed 163 real MOT records for the 2002 Ducati St4s. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2002 Ducati ST4S passes its MOT first time at 88.2%, which is a solid 8 percentage points above the UK average—this is a genuinely reliable middleweight sports-tourer with no dangerous defect concerns (10.4% is well within acceptable bounds). Petrol vs diesel comparisons don't apply to motorcycles, so you're looking at consistent engineering across the fleet.

At just 17,141 miles median, these bikes are lightly used for their age, suggesting they've been cherished rather than thrashed, which explains the strong pass rate. The average of 1.22 failures per vehicle is modest, though 4.4 advisories hints at minor wear typical of 20-year-old machines—when buying, budget for routine consumables like chains, sprockets, and brake pads rather than structural surprises.

We have limited data for the 2002 Ducati St4s — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

89.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.22

Over 11.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 12k–24k

For context

These stats describe 163 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 163 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 50.7%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

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

Brake wear 34.9%

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 33.4%

Exhaust noisy

Lighting 21.6%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · Headlamp aim too low

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

Other issues 12.1%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 9.2%

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Front wheel bearings are slightly rough · Steering headbearing has slight free play

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 163 Ducati St4s cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Ducati St4s

Based on MOT data from 163 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.4% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Ducati St4s 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.

17,141

typical

11,665

low mileage

24,495

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Ducati St4s vehicles fall between 11,665 and 24,495 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,665 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.

✓ 11,665–24,495 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Ducati St4ss sit.

⚠ Over 33,068 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Ducati St4s — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 42% of 2002 Ducati St4ss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 41 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% 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

11.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.22

Avg failures per vehicle

4.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ducati St4s: All St4s years → Which year to buy? →

2001

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Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Ducati St4s stacks up against a rival.

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