BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ TRIUMPH/TIGER 800 XC
Model report · 2005–2025

TRIUMPH TIGER 800 XC

800cc Petrol Class 2
#587 of 5426 overall #40 of 175 TRIUMPHs #42 of 99 adventure bikes
91.4%
first-time pass rate
4.3%
failed outright
15,557
median miles at test
3,582
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The TIGER 800 XC's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.7 points since 2014, 91.9% to 90.2%.

88%91%94%2014: 91.9% pass (297 tests)2015: 92.4% pass (420 tests)2016: 90.6% pass (394 tests)2017: 90.9% pass (363 tests)2018: 92.2% pass (281 tests)2019: 89.1% pass (285 tests)2020: 92.2% pass (230 tests)2021: 90.7% pass (280 tests)2022: 91.6% pass (287 tests)2023: 92.5% pass (280 tests)2024: 91.7% pass (206 tests)2025: 90.2% pass (246 tests)20142025

Pass rate by mileage

how the TIGER 800 XC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage TIGER 800 XC passes first time 92.9% of the time; by 50k that's 85.7%.

84%89%94%0k: 92.9% pass (913 tests)10k: 92.0% pass (1,404 tests)20k: 90.3% pass (744 tests)30k: 88.6% pass (341 tests)40k: 91.6% pass (119 tests)50k: 85.7% pass (35 tests)0k30k50k

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 TIGER 800 XC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
65 29.1 0.4×
lamps and reflectors
33 14.8 0.5×
structure and attachments
26 11.7 0.8×
tyres and wheels
24 10.8 0.3×
suspension
19 8.5 0.6×
tyres
16 7.2 0.7×
steering and suspension
14 6.3 0.1×
lighting and signalling
13 5.8 0.1×
audible warning (Horn)
7 3.1 1.1×
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 TIGER 800 XC beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH TIGER, HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin, TRIUMPH TIGER 800).

TRIUMPH TIGER 89.6% pass · 161k tests HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin 95.3% pass · 21.7k tests TRIUMPH TIGER 800 91.6% pass · 6,797 tests TRIUMPH ADVENTURER 85.1% pass · 6,067 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 TIGER 800 XC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (92.9% pass). Weakest: 2012 (90.8%).

90%92%94%2010: 92.9% pass (155 tests)2011: 91.6% pass (2,372 tests)2012: 90.8% pass (1,039 tests)201020112012

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 TIGER 800 XC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH TIGER 800 XC reliable?

The TRIUMPH TIGER 800 XC is more reliable than average for its class: 91.4% of its 3,582 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #587 of 5426 models.

What does a TIGER 800 XC fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed TIGER 800 XC tests.

What is the best year of TIGER 800 XC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (92.9%) and 2012 worst (90.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TIGER 800 XC last?

The median TIGER 800 XC shows 15,557 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.