BMW F850 vs Triumph Sprint

The BMW F850 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 94.6% vs 85.6%, a 9.0-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	BMW F850	Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate	94.6%	85.6%
Outright fail rate	2.6%	8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.8 pts	+1.8 pts
Engine size	853cc	955cc
Rank among all models	#111 of 5428	#2333 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,486	20,615
MOT tests analysed	2,828	132,827
Most common failure	brakes	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	BMW F850	Triumph Sprint
Brakes	0.7%	3.7%
Lights & signalling	0.5%	2.8%
Steering & suspension	0.6%	2.5%
Tyres & wheels	0.5%	2.2%
Structure & body	0.8%	0.6%
Drive system	0%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	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	BMW F850	Triumph Sprint
2021	95.7%	86.7%
2022	94.3%	85.9%
2023	94.2%	86.4%
2024	95.2%	86.8%
2025	94.6%	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	BMW F850	Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles	95.9%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	93.2%	87.5%
20k-30k miles	91.6%	85.0%
30k-40k miles	92.7%	82.1%

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

BMW F850 vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW F850 or the Triumph Sprint?

The BMW F850 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 94.6% vs 85.6%, a 9.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW F850 still comes out ahead: +6.8 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW F850, +1.8 for the Triumph Sprint. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW F850 fail its MOT on most?

Structure & body: 0.8% of BMW F850 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (0.7%).

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 BMW F850 or the Triumph Sprint?

At 30k-40k miles the BMW F850 passes first time more often: 92.7% for the BMW F850 vs 82.1% for the Triumph Sprint.

BMW F850 94.6% pass · 2,828 tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests

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