TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 1600

1600cc Petrol Class 2

#1075 of 5426 overall #82 of 175 TRIUMPHs #205 of 465 cruiser bikes

89.6%

first-time pass rate

5.8%

failed outright

10,936

median miles at test

4,547

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The THUNDERBIRD 1600's first-time pass rate has risen 6.2 points since 2012, 83.3% to 89.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the THUNDERBIRD 1600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage THUNDERBIRD 1600 passes first time 92.5% of the time; by 40k that's 84.1%.

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 THUNDERBIRD 1600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	137	33	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	59	14.2	0.7×
tyres and wheels	59	14.2	0.5×
tyres	42	10.1	1.2×
fuel and exhaust	36	8.7	0.8×
lighting and signalling	20	4.8	0.1×
suspension	19	4.6	0.5×
Identification of the vehicle	15	3.6	1.4×
structure and attachments	14	3.4	0.3×
reg plates and vin	14	3.4	0.5×

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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the THUNDERBIRD 1600 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 88.9% pass · 30.1k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.7k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C 88.4% pass · 15.7k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDWG 88.7% pass · 14.6k 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 THUNDERBIRD 1600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (92.0% pass). Weakest: 2012 (87.6%).

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 THUNDERBIRD 1600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 1600 reliable?

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 1600 is more reliable than average for its class: 89.6% of its 4,547 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1075 of 5426 models.

What does a THUNDERBIRD 1600 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 33% of all defects recorded against failed THUNDERBIRD 1600 tests.

What is the best year of THUNDERBIRD 1600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (92.0%) and 2012 worst (87.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a THUNDERBIRD 1600 last?

The median THUNDERBIRD 1600 shows 10,936 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 84.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.