TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700

1700cc Petrol Class 2

#1332 of 5426 overall #95 of 175 TRIUMPHs #260 of 465 cruiser bikes

88.8%

first-time pass rate

6.7%

failed outright

10,235

median miles at test

511

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.9 points since 2013, 93.8% to 87.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 passes first time 89.6% of the time; by 20k that's 85.0%.

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 1700

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	21	34.4	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	15	24.6	1.1×
tyres and wheels	9	14.8	0.8×
lighting and signalling	3	4.9	0.1×
fuel and exhaust	3	4.9	0.8×
Identification of the vehicle	3	4.9	2.5×
tyres	3	4.9	0.9×
suspension	2	3.3	0.5×
reg plates and vin	1	1.6	0.3×
steering	1	1.6	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 ABS 1700 beats 2 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 1700.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (88.8% pass). Weakest: 2011 (88.5%).

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 1700 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 reliable?

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.8% of its 511 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1332 of 5426 models.

What does a THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 34% of all defects recorded against failed THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 tests.

How many miles will a THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 last?

The median THUNDERBIRD ABS 1700 shows 10,235 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 85.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.