BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ TRIUMPH/5TA
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

TRIUMPH 5TA

500cc Petrol Class 2
#645 of 5428 overall #50 of 175 TRIUMPHs #394 of 2788 other bikes
91.2%
first-time pass rate
4.4%
failed outright
9,956
median miles at test
1,439
MOT tests, 2005–2025

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The 5TA's first-time pass rate has risen 5.9 points since 2006, 89.7% to 95.6%.

84%91%98%2006: 89.7% pass (136 tests)2007: 91.9% pass (123 tests)2008: 88.8% pass (125 tests)2009: 91.7% pass (132 tests)2010: 89.3% pass (131 tests)2011: 93.5% pass (124 tests)2012: 86.0% pass (114 tests)2013: 89.4% pass (104 tests)2014: 91.9% pass (99 tests)2015: 93.4% pass (91 tests)2016: 92.9% pass (84 tests)2017: 95.6% pass (90 tests)20062017

Pass rate by mileage

how the 5TA's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 5TA passes first time 90.6% of the time; by 50k that's 96.8%.

85%92%99%0k: 90.6% pass (695 tests)10k: 90.3% pass (236 tests)20k: 93.4% pass (106 tests)30k: 93.4% pass (121 tests)40k: 86.9% pass (84 tests)50k: 96.8% pass (62 tests)0k30k50k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 5TA

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
steering and suspension
44 33.8 0.7×
lighting and signalling
31 23.8 0.4×
brakes
28 21.5 0.3×
tyres and wheels
12 9.2 0.4×
drive system
4 3.1 0.3×
fuel and exhaust
3 2.3 0.3×
body and structure
3 2.3 0.4×
driving controls
2 1.5 0.6×
reg plates and vin
2 1.5 0.1×
Items Not Tested
1 0.8 0.8×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 5TA beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 5TA.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the 5TA

More TRIUMPH models

other TRIUMPH bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests
TRIUMPH TIGER 89.6% pass · 161k tests
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests
TRIUMPH DAYTONA 83.6% pass · 113k tests
TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 85.6% pass · 74.6k tests
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests

See all TRIUMPH models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Highest pass rate: 1966 (96.3%). Lowest: 1971 (81.5%). Every 5TA year compared →

79%89%99%1959: 86.6% pass (209 tests)1960: 92.7% pass (275 tests)1961: 89.0% pass (164 tests)1962: 92.5% pass (146 tests)1963: 93.0% pass (86 tests)1964: 91.7% pass (84 tests)1965: 90.1% pass (101 tests)1966: 96.3% pass (134 tests)1971: 81.5% pass (65 tests)195919631971

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

TRIUMPH 5TA FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH 5TA reliable?

The TRIUMPH 5TA is more reliable than average for its class: 91.2% of its 1,439 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #645 of 5428 models.

What does a 5TA fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension: 34% of all defects recorded against failed 5TA tests.

What is the best year of 5TA to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1966-registered examples do best (96.3%) and 1971 worst (81.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 5TA last?

The median 5TA shows 9,956 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 96.8% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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