TRIUMPH ROCKET III

2294cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #106 of 175 TRIUMPHs #302 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

6.1%

failed outright

13,110

median miles at test

15.5k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2007–2025

The ROCKET III's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2007 (87.7% → 88.3%).

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage ROCKET III passes first time 89.2% of the time; by 50k that's 84.6%.

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 III

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	362	22.4	0.4×
lighting and signalling	296	18.3	0.3×
tyres and wheels	257	15.9	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	240	14.8	0.6×
reg plates and vin	107	6.6	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	103	6.4	0.8×
tyres	96	5.9	0.8×
steering and suspension	59	3.6	0.1×
suspension	58	3.6	0.5×
structure and attachments	39	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 ROCKET III beats 0 of its 2 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSB, TRIUMPH ROCKET 111).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSB 89.3% pass · 6,915 tests TRIUMPH ROCKET 111 88.4% pass · 6,812 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 ROCKET III.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (90.6% pass). Weakest: 2004 (86.8%).

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 III FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH ROCKET III reliable?

The TRIUMPH ROCKET III is more reliable than average for its class: 88.3% of its 15,488 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1506 of 5426 models.

What does a ROCKET III fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 22% of all defects recorded against failed ROCKET III tests.

What is the best year of ROCKET III to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (90.6%) and 2004 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ROCKET III last?

The median ROCKET III shows 13,110 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.