BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ TRIUMPH/T20
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

TRIUMPH T20

199cc Petrol Class 1
#1574 of 5428 overall #109 of 175 TRIUMPHs #959 of 2788 other bikes
88.1%
first-time pass rate
3.7%
failed outright
8,070
median miles at test
901
MOT tests, 2005–2025

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.

Pass rate over time

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

The T20's first-time pass rate has risen 6.8 points since 2006, 87.5% to 94.3%.

79%88%97%2006: 87.5% pass (104 tests)2007: 91.4% pass (81 tests)2008: 93.6% pass (78 tests)2009: 83.3% pass (72 tests)2010: 81.7% pass (71 tests)2011: 85.7% pass (77 tests)2012: 91.6% pass (83 tests)2013: 90.0% pass (70 tests)2014: 85.5% pass (62 tests)2015: 87.8% pass (49 tests)2016: 87.8% pass (49 tests)2017: 94.3% pass (53 tests)20062017

Pass rate by mileage

how the T20's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage T20 passes first time 85.8% of the time; by 30k that's 92.2%.

85%89%93%0k: 85.8% pass (438 tests)10k: 90.0% pass (210 tests)20k: 87.9% pass (99 tests)30k: 92.2% pass (51 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 T20

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
21 31.3 0.4×
steering and suspension
21 31.3 0.6×
brakes
10 14.9 0.2×
tyres and wheels
6 9 0.3×
driving controls
2 3 0.9×
body and structure
2 3 0.5×
drive system
2 3 0.3×
fuel and exhaust
2 3 0.3×
Items Not Tested
1 1.5 1.2×

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 T20 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 T20.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the T20

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: 1966 (94.1%). Lowest: 1967 (84.4%). Every T20 year compared →

82%89%96%1959: 89.2% pass (65 tests)1960: 92.7% pass (109 tests)1961: 87.8% pass (139 tests)1962: 90.2% pass (51 tests)1963: 90.4% pass (104 tests)1964: 91.8% pass (61 tests)1965: 90.2% pass (61 tests)1966: 94.1% pass (51 tests)1967: 84.4% pass (96 tests)195919631967

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 T20 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH T20 reliable?

The TRIUMPH T20 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.1% of its 901 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #1574 of 5428 models.

What does a T20 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 31% of all defects recorded against failed T20 tests.

What is the best year of T20 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1966-registered examples do best (94.1%) and 1967 worst (84.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a T20 last?

The median T20 shows 8,070 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 92.2% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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