2016 KTM RC 0.4L Petrol · WM66 AXJ

A chronic rear-tyre wear issue runs through nearly every MOT in this KTM RC's recorded history, with advisories for a tyre worn close to the legal limit flagging in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, only the most recent test in August 2026 coming back clean with no defects recorded. That repeated advisory pattern over consecutive tests is the defining mechanical story here and warrants close attention, particularly because the same corner is involved each time rather than a one-off finding. The single non-tyre advisory, a note in 2020 that the rear suspension showed slightly reduced damping, is also a relevant data point when read alongside the consistent rear-tyre wear, as both point towards behaviour at the back end that the MOT station has had cause to comment on more than once. There have been no outright failures across the eight tests on file, but the persistence of the same advisory category across five separate visits cannot be dismissed as incidental. The recorded mileage of 3,686 miles against a 2016 registration equates to roughly 369 miles per year over the vehicle's ten-year life, which is exceptionally low and points strongly towards extended periods of standing rather than regular riding. The MOT record shows testing from 2019 through to 2026 without any unusual gaps, but the underlying usage is sparse, and components that suffer from inactivity rather than wear will be the ones most likely to cause problems on this machine. Brake calipers, particularly at the wheel where the rear-tyre wear has been flagged, can bind or seize after long lay-ups, and the 2020 advisory on rear damping could already be a reflection of seals drying out from limited use. Fork and shock oil degradation, chain and sprocket corrosion, and stale fuel are all reasonable considerations for a sports machine of this age with such modest annual mileage. A prospective buyer should treat the repeated rear-tyre advisory as a serious prompt to inspect alignment and chassis geometry rather than simply budgeting for fresh rubber. On a test ride, feel for the bike pulling to one side under acceleration or braking, any vagueness or asymmetry in how the rear settles into corners, and whether the rear end feels unsettled over mid-corner bumps, all of which could indicate geometry, shock, or linkage issues behind the persistent wear pattern. With the 2020 advisory on rear damping in mind, pay particular attention to any pinging, knocking, or excessive bouncing from the rear over uneven surfaces, and watch for the bike failing to settle quickly after weight transfers. Given the very low annual mileage, the rear brake caliper and pads should be physically inspected for seizure and corrosion rather than assumed serviceable, and the chain, sprockets, brake fluid, fork seals and coolant should all be treated as age-related service items regardless of what the odometer suggests. A pre-purchase inspection by a motorcycle specialist is strongly advisable, with particular emphasis on the rear suspension linkage, swingarm pivot bearings and tyre wear pattern across the rear contact patch to establish whether the advisory history is simply cosmetic or symptomatic of an underlying chassis issue.