BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ TRIUMPH/BONNEVILLE L
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE L

744cc Petrol Class 2
#1604 of 5428 overall #110 of 175 TRIUMPHs #321 of 465 cruiser bikes
88.0%
first-time pass rate
6.1%
failed outright
13,724
median miles at test
1,057
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+2.2pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The BONNEVILLE L's first-time pass rate has risen 2.9 points since 2006, 91.4% to 94.3%.

80%89%97%2006: 91.4% pass (81 tests)2007: 82.7% pass (75 tests)2008: 88.1% pass (67 tests)2009: 83.6% pass (73 tests)2010: 86.3% pass (73 tests)2011: 84.5% pass (71 tests)2012: 90.9% pass (66 tests)2013: 89.2% pass (74 tests)2014: 89.7% pass (68 tests)2015: 85.3% pass (68 tests)2016: 90.8% pass (76 tests)2017: 91.2% pass (57 tests)2018: 94.3% pass (35 tests)20062018

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage BONNEVILLE L passes first time 85.9% of the time; by 40k that's 93.8%.

83%89%96%0k: 85.9% pass (397 tests)10k: 89.6% pass (278 tests)20k: 84.7% pass (170 tests)30k: 91.1% pass (124 tests)40k: 93.8% pass (64 tests)0k20k40k

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 BONNEVILLE L

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
42 33.6 0.6×
lighting and signalling
25 20 0.3×
steering and suspension
20 16 0.5×
lamps and reflectors
13 10.4 0.5×
reg plates and vin
7 5.6 1.0×
tyres and wheels
4 3.2 0.2×
fuel and exhaust
4 3.2 0.4×
structure and attachments
4 3.2 0.3×
drive system
3 2.4 0.4×
steering
3 2.4 0.7×

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 BONNEVILLE L beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 BONNEVILLE L.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Bonneville L

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: 1981 (90.5%). Lowest: 1980 (82.4%). Every Bonneville L year compared →

81%86%92%1971: 84.9% pass (53 tests)1977: 88.2% pass (76 tests)1978: 89.6% pass (125 tests)1979: 83.2% pass (101 tests)1980: 82.4% pass (119 tests)1981: 90.5% pass (63 tests)197119791981

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 L FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE L reliable?

The TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE L is more reliable than average for its class: 88.0% of its 1,057 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1604 of 5428 models.

What does a BONNEVILLE L fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 34% of all defects recorded against failed BONNEVILLE L tests.

What is the best year of BONNEVILLE L to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1981-registered examples do best (90.5%) and 1980 worst (82.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a BONNEVILLE L last?

The median BONNEVILLE L shows 13,724 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 93.8% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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