BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ TRIUMPH/TIGER EXPLORER 1215
Model report · 2005–2025

TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER 1215

1215cc Petrol Class 2
#825 of 5428 overall #63 of 175 TRIUMPHs #54 of 99 adventure bikes
90.4%
first-time pass rate
6.5%
failed outright
21,482
median miles at test
4,677
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+6.2pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2025

The TIGER EXPLORER 1215's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.7 points since 2015, 92.4% to 87.7%.

87%90%94%2015: 92.4% pass (606 tests)2016: 91.3% pass (573 tests)2017: 88.0% pass (534 tests)2018: 91.0% pass (410 tests)2019: 89.5% pass (391 tests)2020: 92.3% pass (336 tests)2021: 91.3% pass (391 tests)2022: 89.4% pass (406 tests)2023: 89.8% pass (393 tests)2024: 90.2% pass (325 tests)2025: 87.7% pass (292 tests)20152025

Pass rate by mileage

how the TIGER EXPLORER 1215's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage TIGER EXPLORER 1215 passes first time 93.9% of the time; by 50k that's 82.3%.

80%88%96%0k: 93.9% pass (683 tests)10k: 92.2% pass (1,447 tests)20k: 90.5% pass (1,268 tests)30k: 88.4% pass (680 tests)40k: 83.6% pass (323 tests)50k: 82.3% pass (147 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 EXPLORER 1215

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
184 36.7 0.7×
suspension
95 18.9 2.3×
lamps and reflectors
58 11.6 0.5×
steering and suspension
43 8.6 0.2×
tyres
33 6.6 0.9×
tyres and wheels
32 6.4 0.3×
lighting and signalling
18 3.6 0.1×
steering
17 3.4 0.7×
audible warning (Horn)
12 2.4 1.4×
structure and attachments
10 2 0.3×

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 TIGER EXPLORER 1215 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH TIGER, DUCATI MULTISTRADA, HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin).

TRIUMPH TIGER 89.6% pass · 161k tests Compare head-to-head →
DUCATI MULTISTRADA 89.9% pass · 24.8k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin 95.3% pass · 21.7k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 87.3% pass · 14.0k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 EXPLORER 1215.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Tiger Explorer 1215

More TRIUMPH models

other TRIUMPH bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests
TRIUMPH TIGER 89.6% pass · 161k tests
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests
TRIUMPH DAYTONA 83.6% pass · 113k tests
TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 85.6% pass · 74.6k tests
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests

See all TRIUMPH models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (91.3% pass). Weakest: 2012 (90.3%).

90%91%92%2011: 91.3% pass (218 tests)2012: 90.3% pass (4,439 tests)20112012

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 EXPLORER 1215 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER 1215 reliable?

The TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER 1215 is more reliable than average for its class: 90.4% of its 4,677 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #825 of 5428 models.

What does a TIGER EXPLORER 1215 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 37% of all defects recorded against failed TIGER EXPLORER 1215 tests.

How many miles will a TIGER EXPLORER 1215 last?

The median TIGER EXPLORER 1215 shows 21,482 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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