2009 Ducati 1198 1.2L Petrol · OU59 DVC

A consistently clean MOT record across five consecutive tests defines the roadworthiness profile of this 2009 Ducati 1198, with the most recent examination on 12 August 2025 returning a pass and no advisories, advisories-free passes also recorded in August 2024, August 2023, and August 2022. The sole blip is a failure dated 11 August 2022, which was followed just twelve days later by a pass on 23 August 2022; both entries carry no recorded defects, suggesting either a rectification carried out between tests or an administrative re-test where the original reason was not logged. There are no recurring advisories for brake component wear, suspension deterioration, exhaust integrity, lighting defects, or structural corrosion anywhere in the five-test sequence, which is a notable positive for a machine of this age. At 4,482 recorded miles over approximately seventeen years, annual usage works out at roughly 264 miles per year, an extremely low accumulation rate that points heavily towards long periods of storage interspersed with occasional short rides rather than regular road use. The mileage appears to have remained static or near-static across the four-year MOT window covered here, with no recorded progression between tests, reinforcing the impression of a machine that has spent significant time off the road. Mechanically, this profile carries familiar implications for a high-performance Italian sports machine: seals, gaskets, and flexible components in the L-twin engine and gearbox are prone to drying out and weeping when left standing, while the fuel system, injectors, and ABS modulator can suffer from internal deterioration during extended inactivity. The braking system, although showing no advisories on test, should be considered suspect purely on age grounds, with binding calipers, corroded pistons, and glazed or pitted discs all common after years of light use rather than regular frictional cleaning through consistent braking. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas on inspection are the running gear and any evidence of deterioration through standing rather than wear. On a test ride, listen carefully for chain and sprocket noise from the final drive, feel for any clutch drag or gearbox notchiness when pulling away from cold, and watch for misfire or rough idle from the desmodromic engine if it has not been run for a prolonged period prior to your viewing. Inspect the underside closely for oil residue around the sump, clutch cover, and rear of the engine casings, as well as for any corrosion on the trellis frame, swingarm pivot area, and suspension linkages. Brake feel should be firm and progressive at the lever and pedal; any sponginess, uneven pull, or the need to pump the lever suggests corroded caliper internals or old fluid, and the discs should be checked for surface rust pitting that has progressed beyond a light polishable film. Given the absence of any logged advisories over four consecutive passes, there is no specific component flagged in the MOT history to target, which places the burden of inspection firmly on age-related and storage-related deterioration rather than documented wear items. Confirm the date of the last major service, including belt replacement intervals, valve clearance checks, and brake fluid renewal, and verify that the battery is a recent fitment of adequate cranking capacity for the high-compression V-twin. Check all electrical systems thoroughly, including the instrumentation, ABS warning cycle, and lighting, as standing vehicles frequently develop earth faults and connector corrosion that would not necessarily be caught on a basic MOT lamp check. Provided a thorough pre-purchase inspection and recommissioning service are carried out by a Ducati specialist, the clean test history provides a sound foundation, but the mileage profile demands that the machine be evaluated primarily on its condition today rather than its paper record.