TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD SPORT

885cc Petrol Class 2

#2306 of 5426 overall #134 of 175 TRIUMPHs #420 of 465 cruiser bikes

85.7%

first-time pass rate

6.9%

failed outright

14,622

median miles at test

607

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2013

The THUNDERBIRD SPORT's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.4 points since 2006, 85.7% to 73.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage THUNDERBIRD SPORT passes first time 89.1% of the time; by 30k that's 78.4%.

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 SPORT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	36	43.9	1.0×
steering and suspension	12	14.6	0.6×
lighting and signalling	8	9.8	0.3×
tyres and wheels	7	8.5	0.5×
drive system	4	4.9	0.7×
Items Not Tested	4	4.9	3.6×
fuel and exhaust	3	3.7	0.7×
steering	3	3.7	0.4×
suspension	3	3.7	0.4×
reg plates and vin	2	2.4	0.6×

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 SPORT beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 SPORT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (90.6% pass). Weakest: 1999 (81.4%).

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 SPORT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD SPORT reliable?

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD SPORT is about average for its class: 85.7% of its 607 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2306 of 5426 models.

What does a THUNDERBIRD SPORT fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 44% of all defects recorded against failed THUNDERBIRD SPORT tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (90.6%) and 1999 worst (81.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a THUNDERBIRD SPORT last?

The median THUNDERBIRD SPORT shows 14,622 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 78.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.