BMW K1600 vs Triumph Trophy

The BMW K1600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Trophy: 95.3% vs 84.0%, a 11.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW K1600	Triumph Trophy
First-time pass rate	95.3%	84.0%
Outright fail rate	3.1%	10.7%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+8.9 pts	+0.8 pts
Engine size	1,649cc	1,180cc
Rank among all models	#54 of 5428	#2748 of 5428
Median miles at test	13,935	25,399
MOT tests analysed	12,051	39,196
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 K1600	Triumph Trophy
Brakes	0.8%	5.2%
Steering & suspension	1.1%	3.5%
Lights & signalling	0.4%	3.8%
Tyres & wheels	1.1%	2.2%
Structure & body	0.0%	1.0%
Drive system	0%	0.5%
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 K1600	Triumph Trophy
2018	94.9%	87.2%
2019	96.0%	85.1%
2020	96.7%	88.8%
2021	96.2%	85.9%
2022	95.2%	87.5%
2023	95.9%	87.2%
2024	95.8%	85.9%
2025	95.9%	88.5%

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 K1600	Triumph Trophy
0k-10k miles	96.6%	90.7%
10k-20k miles	95.5%	86.6%
20k-30k miles	93.8%	83.5%
30k-40k miles	91.9%	81.6%
40k-50k miles	93.2%	80.1%
50k-60k miles	97.5%	78.8%

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

BMW K1600 vs Triumph Trophy FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW K1600 or the Triumph Trophy?

The BMW K1600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Trophy: 95.3% vs 84.0%, a 11.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW K1600 still comes out ahead: +8.9 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW K1600, +0.8 for the Triumph Trophy. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW K1600 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 1.1% of BMW K1600 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.1%).

What does the Triumph Trophy fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 5.2% of Triumph Trophy MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.8%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW K1600 or the Triumph Trophy?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW K1600 passes first time more often: 97.5% for the BMW K1600 vs 78.8% for the Triumph Trophy.

BMW K1600 95.3% pass · 12.1k tests TRIUMPH TROPHY 84.0% pass · 39.2k tests

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