2012 Ducati 1198 1.2L Petrol · AF62 UUS

The defining mechanical feature of this 2012 Ducati 1198 is a persistent exhaust noise issue that has surfaced repeatedly across the MOT record, appearing as an advisory at every test from 2022 onwards, with the most recent test on 20 August 2026 again flagging the exhaust as noisy under item 8.1.1 (a). While a noisy exhaust does not constitute a failure in itself, the consistency of this advisory across four separate examinations suggests an underlying condition, whether a failing mounting, a deteriorating silencer baffle, or a compromised gasket, that has not been rectified between tests. Aside from this recurring item, the 2026 test and the clean 2025 test both passed with no other defects recorded, so the overall roadworthiness trend is stable rather than deteriorating, but the exhaust condition is a known unresolved concern. Against a fourteen-year age, the recorded mileage of 1,778 miles equates to an average accumulation of roughly 127 miles per year, which is exceptionally low for a motorcycle and points strongly towards extended periods of standing rather than regular use. The MOT record shows tests in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026 with a gap between 2023 and 2025, which is consistent with a vehicle that may have been off the road or in very limited use during that interval. Mechanically, this kind of low and irregular usage pattern carries its own risks: brake discs and pads can corrode and bind through lack of regular operation, suspension linkages and bearings can develop surface corrosion and seize, fuel systems can suffer from stale fuel deposits, and tyres can harden and develop flat-spotting or sidewall cracking well before their tread depth is exhausted. The single prior failure on 28 July 2022 for a missing rear reflector is a minor compliance issue rather than a mechanical defect, but it is worth noting as the only recorded PR. For a prospective buyer, the priority checks should focus on the actual defect history. The exhaust should be inspected physically for play at the mounting points, loose clamps, perished rubber hangers, and any signs of blowing at joints, and it should be listened to at idle and under throttle for changes in note that would confirm a leak. Given the very low mileage, particular attention should be paid to the brake system, checking that the discs are not heavily corroded or lipped, that the calipers release cleanly without binding, and that the brake fluid is fresh, as standing moisture in old fluid is a real concern on a machine that has seen so little use. Suspension should be examined for any stiffness in the steering head bearings, corrosion on the fork stanchions, and seizing in the rear linkage, and a test ride should be carried out over uneven surfaces to listen for clonks, knocks or any binding that would indicate dried-out or corroded linkages rather than simply low mileage. Tyres warrant close visual inspection for age-related sidewall cracking and hardness even if tread remains, and all fluids should be checked for condition and age, as a motorcycle of this age with this mileage is more vulnerable to deterioration through standing than to wear from use.