TRIUMPH 5TA

500cc Petrol Class 2

#643 of 5426 overall #50 of 175 TRIUMPHs #392 of 2787 other bikes

91.2%

first-time pass rate

4.4%

failed outright

9,956

median miles at test

1,439

MOT tests, 2005–2025

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%.

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%.

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	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×
reg plates and vin	2	1.5	0.1×
driving controls	2	1.5	0.6×
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 SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

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.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1966 (96.3% pass). Weakest: 1971 (81.5%).

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 #643 of 5426 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 — mileage alone rarely kills one.