BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ducati Monster/vs Triumph Trident
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ducati Monster vs Triumph Trident

The Triumph Trident passes its MOT first time more often than the Ducati Monster: 85.0% vs 83.9%, a 1.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ducati Monster Triumph Trident
First-time pass rate 83.9% 85.0%
Outright fail rate 8.6% 8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -2.1 pts +1.0 pts
Engine size 803cc 885cc
Rank among all models #2767 of 5428 #2491 of 5428
Median miles at test 11,140 23,417
MOT tests analysed 8,991 23,936
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 Ducati Monster Triumph Trident
Lights & signalling 4.7% 3.3%
Brakes 2.4% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 2.1% 2.9%
Tyres & wheels 1.6% 1.8%
Structure & body 0.5% 0.8%
Drive system 0.7% 0.5%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 0.3%

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 Ducati Monster Triumph Trident
2018 85.4% 85.4%
2019 86.9% 86.5%
2020 86.3% 87.3%
2021 87.4% 85.4%
2022 85.9% 83.9%
2023 85.6% 88.7%
2024 90.9% 90.5%
2025 86.4% 90.2%

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 Ducati Monster Triumph Trident
0k-10k miles 87.3% 89.7%
10k-20k miles 82.4% 86.6%
20k-30k miles 79.7% 83.6%
30k-40k miles 78.9% 82.4%
40k-50k miles 77.8% 82.6%
50k-60k miles 78.1% 80.6%

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

Ducati Monster vs Triumph Trident FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ducati Monster or the Triumph Trident?

The Triumph Trident passes its MOT first time more often than the Ducati Monster: 85.0% vs 83.9%, a 1.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Triumph Trident still comes out ahead: -2.1 points vs comparable bikes for the Ducati Monster, +1.0 for the Triumph Trident. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Ducati Monster fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.7% of Ducati Monster MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.4%).

What does the Triumph Trident fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.9% of Triumph Trident MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.3%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Ducati Monster or the Triumph Trident?

At 50k-60k miles the Triumph Trident passes first time more often: 78.1% for the Ducati Monster vs 80.6% for the Triumph Trident.

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