TRIUMPH 900

885cc Petrol Class 2

#3165 of 5426 overall #163 of 175 TRIUMPHs #2014 of 2787 other bikes

82.1%

first-time pass rate

10.7%

failed outright

30,532

median miles at test

702

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The 900's first-time pass rate has risen 7.3 points since 2006, 78.0% to 85.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the 900's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 900 passes first time 87.4% of the time; by 50k that's 78.9%.

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 900

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	40	26.8	1.1×
steering and suspension	35	23.5	1.1×
lighting and signalling	33	22.1	0.9×
tyres and wheels	21	14.1	1.4×
lamps and reflectors	5	3.4	0.4×
drive system	4	2.7	0.8×
driving controls	3	2	1.8×
structure and attachments	3	2	0.6×
reg plates and vin	3	2	0.2×
steering	2	1.3	0.3×

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 900 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, HONDA VFR800 FI).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k 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 900.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (88.8% pass). Weakest: 1992 (76.7%).

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 900 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH 900 reliable?

The TRIUMPH 900 is less reliable than average for its class: 82.1% of its 702 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3165 of 5426 models.

What does a 900 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 27% of all defects recorded against failed 900 tests.

What is the best year of 900 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (88.8%) and 1992 worst (76.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 900 last?

The median 900 shows 30,532 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.