Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE BOBBER
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.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The BONNEVILLE BOBBER's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.5 points since 2024, 90.4% to 87.9%.
What fails on a BONNEVILLE BOBBER
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lamps and reflectors |
|
25 | 45.5 | 1.5× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
8 | 14.5 | 4.9× |
| brakes |
|
6 | 10.9 | 0.2× |
| tyres |
|
6 | 10.9 | 1.0× |
| structure and attachments |
|
4 | 7.3 | 0.6× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
3 | 5.5 | 2.3× |
| steering |
|
3 | 5.5 | 1.0× |
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
On first-time pass rate the BONNEVILLE BOBBER beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).
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 BONNEVILLE BOBBER.
Compare with any bike
More TRIUMPH models
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 2017 (93.5%). Lowest: 2022 (84.9%). Every Bonneville Bobber year compared →
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 BONNEVILLE BOBBER FAQ
Is the TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE BOBBER reliable?
The TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE BOBBER is more reliable than average for its class: 88.8% of its 706 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1332 of 5428 models.
What does a BONNEVILLE BOBBER fail its MOT on most?
lamps and reflectors: 45% of all defects recorded against failed BONNEVILLE BOBBER tests.
What is the best year of BONNEVILLE BOBBER to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (93.5%) and 2022 worst (84.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.
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