BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Aprilia SL1000/vs Triumph Sprint
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia SL1000 vs Triumph Sprint

The Triumph Sprint passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia SL1000: 85.6% vs 84.6%, a 1.0-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia SL1000 Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate 84.6% 85.6%
Outright fail rate 8.8% 8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +0.3 pts +1.8 pts
Engine size 998cc 955cc
Rank among all models #2595 of 5428 #2333 of 5428
Median miles at test 18,236 20,615
MOT tests analysed 8,452 132,827
Most common failure lighting and signalling brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Aprilia SL1000 Triumph Sprint
Lights & signalling 4.5% 2.8%
Brakes 2.1% 3.7%
Steering & suspension 2.0% 2.5%
Tyres & wheels 1.8% 2.2%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.6%
Drive system 0.7% 0.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 0.2%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Aprilia SL1000 Triumph Sprint
2018 86.8% 86.2%
2019 83.0% 86.1%
2020 81.5% 86.4%
2021 86.0% 86.7%
2022 85.7% 85.9%
2023 87.4% 86.4%
2024 81.4% 86.8%
2025 90.4% 86.8%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Aprilia SL1000 Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles 89.0% 90.9%
10k-20k miles 86.8% 87.5%
20k-30k miles 82.6% 85.0%
30k-40k miles 78.9% 82.1%
40k-50k miles 76.7% 80.3%
50k-60k miles 79.9% 79.3%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Aprilia SL1000 vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia SL1000 or the Triumph Sprint?

The Triumph Sprint passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia SL1000: 85.6% vs 84.6%, a 1.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Triumph Sprint still comes out ahead: +0.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia SL1000, +1.8 for the Triumph Sprint. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia SL1000 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.5% of Aprilia SL1000 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.1%).

What does the Triumph Sprint fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.7% of Triumph Sprint MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.8%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia SL1000 or the Triumph Sprint?

They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Aprilia SL1000 passes 79.9% first time and the Triumph Sprint 79.3%.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.