BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ TRIUMPH/LEGEND TT
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

TRIUMPH LEGEND TT

885cc Petrol Class 2
#2445 of 5428 overall #141 of 175 TRIUMPHs #1530 of 2788 other bikes
85.2%
first-time pass rate
6.8%
failed outright
13,698
median miles at test
515
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+0.3pp
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 · 2006–2010

The LEGEND TT's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.6 points since 2006, 84.9% to 83.3%.

71%83%96%2006: 84.9% pass (53 tests)2007: 91.5% pass (47 tests)2008: 82.9% pass (41 tests)2009: 75.0% pass (32 tests)2010: 83.3% pass (30 tests)20062010

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage LEGEND TT passes first time 91.3% of the time; by 30k that's 85.7%.

78%86%94%0k: 91.3% pass (196 tests)10k: 81.9% pass (160 tests)20k: 79.8% pass (89 tests)30k: 85.7% pass (42 tests)0k20k30k

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 LEGEND TT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
17 29.3 0.6×
lighting and signalling
8 13.8 0.4×
steering and suspension
8 13.8 0.5×
tyres and wheels
8 13.8 0.6×
fuel and exhaust
6 10.3 1.5×
lamps and reflectors
4 6.9 0.5×
drive system
4 6.9 0.5×
reg plates and vin
1 1.7 0.3×
audible warning (Horn)
1 1.7 1.1×
structure and attachments
1 1.7 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 LEGEND TT beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, HONDA VFR800 FI).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k 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 LEGEND TT.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Legend TT

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: 2000 (90.4%). Lowest: 1999 (80.8%). Every Legend TT year compared →

79%86%92%1998: 85.1% pass (154 tests)1999: 80.8% pass (193 tests)2000: 90.4% pass (135 tests)199819992000

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 LEGEND TT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH LEGEND TT reliable?

The TRIUMPH LEGEND TT is about average for its class: 85.2% of its 515 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2445 of 5428 models.

What does a LEGEND TT fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 29% of all defects recorded against failed LEGEND TT tests.

What is the best year of LEGEND TT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (90.4%) and 1999 worst (80.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a LEGEND TT last?

The median LEGEND TT shows 13,698 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 85.7% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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