TRIUMPH ROCKET 111
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 ROCKET 111's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2007 (89.6% → 89.2%).
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage ROCKET 111 passes first time 89.9% of the time; by 50k that's 82.0%.
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 ROCKET 111
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brakes |
|
170 | 23.4 | 0.4× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
120 | 16.5 | 0.3× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
116 | 15.9 | 0.7× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
97 | 13.3 | 0.7× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
61 | 8.4 | 1.1× |
| tyres |
|
45 | 6.2 | 0.9× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
38 | 5.2 | 0.6× |
| suspension |
|
32 | 4.4 | 0.6× |
| steering and suspension |
|
26 | 3.6 | 0.1× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
23 | 3.2 | 1.5× |
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 ROCKET 111 beats 1 of its 2 closest rivals (TRIUMPH ROCKET III, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSB).
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 ROCKET 111.
Compare with any bike
More TRIUMPH models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2010 (91.6% pass). Weakest: 2005 (86.6%).
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 ROCKET 111 FAQ
Is the TRIUMPH ROCKET 111 reliable?
The TRIUMPH ROCKET 111 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.4% of its 6,812 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1478 of 5428 models.
What does a ROCKET 111 fail its MOT on most?
brakes — 23% of all defects recorded against failed ROCKET 111 tests.
What is the best year of ROCKET 111 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (91.6%) and 2005 worst (86.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a ROCKET 111 last?
The median ROCKET 111 shows 13,488 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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