TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600

1600cc Petrol Class 2

#1111 of 5426 overall #87 of 175 TRIUMPHs #216 of 465 cruiser bikes

89.5%

first-time pass rate

6.9%

failed outright

11,650

median miles at test

2,200

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600's first-time pass rate has risen 1.4 points since 2013, 88.3% to 89.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 passes first time 92.0% of the time; by 40k that's 100.0%.

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 THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	69	30.7	0.6×
tyres and wheels	39	17.3	0.8×
tyres	36	16	2.1×
lamps and reflectors	28	12.4	0.7×
suspension	16	7.1	0.9×
lighting and signalling	10	4.4	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	8	3.6	1.6×
structure and attachments	7	3.1	0.3×
steering and suspension	6	2.7	0.1×
reg plates and vin	6	2.7	0.2×

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 THUNDERBIRD ABS 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 ABS 1600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (89.9% pass). Weakest: 2012 (88.2%).

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 ABS 1600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 reliable?

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 is more reliable than average for its class: 89.5% of its 2,200 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1111 of 5426 models.

What does a THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 31% of all defects recorded against failed THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (89.9%) and 2012 worst (88.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 last?

The median THUNDERBIRD ABS 1600 shows 11,650 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 100.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.