TRIUMPH CUB

199cc Petrol Class 1

#618 of 5426 overall #44 of 175 TRIUMPHs #376 of 2787 other bikes

91.3%

first-time pass rate

2.1%

failed outright

7,325

median miles at test

828

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The CUB's first-time pass rate has risen 5.1 points since 2006, 91.1% to 96.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CUB's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage CUB passes first time 90.3% of the time; by 20k that's 93.5%.

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 CUB

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	18	42.9	0.3×
brakes	8	19	0.2×
lighting and signalling	6	14.3	0.2×
tyres and wheels	5	11.9	0.2×
driving controls	2	4.8	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	1	2.4	0.2×
drive system	1	2.4	0.2×
body and structure	1	2.4	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 CUB beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 CUB.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1964 (100.0% pass). Weakest: 1960 (83.0%).

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 CUB FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH CUB reliable?

The TRIUMPH CUB is more reliable than average for its class: 91.3% of its 828 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #618 of 5426 models.

What does a CUB fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 43% of all defects recorded against failed CUB tests.

What is the best year of CUB to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1964-registered examples do best (100.0%) and 1960 worst (83.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CUB last?

The median CUB shows 7,325 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 93.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.