BMW R80/7 vs Triumph Sprint

The Triumph Sprint passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R80/7: 85.6% vs 85.5%, a 0.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW R80/7	Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate	85.5%	85.6%
Outright fail rate	7.1%	8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.4 pts	+1.8 pts
Engine size	800cc	955cc
Rank among all models	#2363 of 5428	#2333 of 5428
Median miles at test	40,470	20,615
MOT tests analysed	1,446	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	BMW R80/7	Triumph Sprint
Brakes	2.5%	3.7%
Lights & signalling	2.4%	2.8%
Steering & suspension	2.2%	2.5%
Tyres & wheels	1.4%	2.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0.8%	0.2%
Structure & body	0.4%	0.6%
Drive system	0%	0.4%

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 R80/7	Triumph Sprint
2010	87.2%	84.6%
2011	84.5%	84.3%
2012	81.5%	84.5%
2013	86.8%	85.4%
2014	83.3%	85.3%
2015	84.2%	85.6%
2016	87.2%	85.6%
2017	86.9%	85.5%

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 R80/7	Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles	78.0%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	90.9%	87.5%
20k-30k miles	85.3%	85.0%
30k-40k miles	88.7%	82.1%
40k-50k miles	86.7%	80.3%
50k-60k miles	85.9%	79.3%

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

BMW R80/7 vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW R80/7 or the Triumph Sprint?

The Triumph Sprint passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R80/7: 85.6% vs 85.5%, a 0.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+2.4 vs +1.8 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW R80/7 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.5% of BMW R80/7 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.4%).

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 R80/7 or the Triumph Sprint?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW R80/7 passes first time more often: 85.9% for the BMW R80/7 vs 79.3% for the Triumph Sprint.

BMW R80/7 85.5% pass · 1,446 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.