TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD STORM

1700cc Petrol Class 2

#883 of 5426 overall #67 of 175 TRIUMPHs #166 of 465 cruiser bikes

90.2%

first-time pass rate

5.5%

failed outright

11,119

median miles at test

1,251

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2025

The THUNDERBIRD STORM's first-time pass rate has risen 4.2 points since 2014, 87.2% to 91.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage THUNDERBIRD STORM passes first time 90.5% of the time; by 30k that's 82.1%.

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 STORM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	28	26.2	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	26	24.3	1.0×
tyres and wheels	13	12.1	0.4×
tyres	10	9.3	1.2×
fuel and exhaust	9	8.4	0.8×
suspension	7	6.5	0.5×
structure and attachments	4	3.7	0.5×
Identification of the vehicle	4	3.7	1.4×
steering	3	2.8	0.6×
audible warning (Horn)	3	2.8	1.3×

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 STORM 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 STORM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (90.9% pass). Weakest: 2012 (87.8%).

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 STORM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD STORM reliable?

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD STORM is more reliable than average for its class: 90.2% of its 1,251 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #883 of 5426 models.

What does a THUNDERBIRD STORM fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed THUNDERBIRD STORM tests.

How many miles will a THUNDERBIRD STORM last?

The median THUNDERBIRD STORM shows 11,119 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 82.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.