BMW R90S vs Triumph Sprint

The BMW R90S passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 90.0% vs 85.6%, a 4.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW R90S	Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate	90.0%	85.6%
Outright fail rate	4.3%	8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.2 pts	+1.8 pts
Engine size	898cc	955cc
Rank among all models	#960 of 5428	#2333 of 5428
Median miles at test	38,296	20,615
MOT tests analysed	1,503	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 R90S	Triumph Sprint
Brakes	1.3%	3.7%
Lights & signalling	1.9%	2.8%
Steering & suspension	1.6%	2.5%
Tyres & wheels	0.5%	2.2%
Structure & body	0.2%	0.6%
Drive system	0%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.2%	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 R90S	Triumph Sprint
2011	90.4%	84.3%
2012	87.4%	84.5%
2013	86.0%	85.4%
2014	88.1%	85.3%
2015	89.9%	85.6%
2016	90.7%	85.6%
2017	94.0%	85.5%
2018	88.0%	86.2%

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 R90S	Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles	87.6%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	95.3%	87.5%
20k-30k miles	87.9%	85.0%
30k-40k miles	90.0%	82.1%
40k-50k miles	93.3%	80.3%
50k-60k miles	86.9%	79.3%

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

BMW R90S vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW R90S or the Triumph Sprint?

The BMW R90S passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 90.0% vs 85.6%, a 4.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R90S still comes out ahead: +6.2 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW R90S, +1.8 for the Triumph Sprint. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW R90S fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.9% of BMW R90S MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.6%).

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 R90S or the Triumph Sprint?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW R90S passes first time more often: 86.9% for the BMW R90S vs 79.3% for the Triumph Sprint.

BMW R90S 90.0% pass · 1,503 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.