BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ducati ST3/vs Triumph Sprint
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ducati ST3 vs Triumph Sprint

The Ducati ST3 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 88.0% vs 85.6%, a 2.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ducati ST3 Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate 88.0% 85.6%
Outright fail rate 7.3% 8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +2.7 pts +1.8 pts
Engine size 992cc 955cc
Rank among all models #1604 of 5428 #2333 of 5428
Median miles at test 14,888 20,615
MOT tests analysed 2,747 132,827
Most common failure steering and suspension 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 ST3 Triumph Sprint
Brakes 2.1% 3.7%
Steering & suspension 3.1% 2.5%
Lights & signalling 2.4% 2.8%
Tyres & wheels 1.1% 2.2%
Drive system 0.6% 0.4%
Structure & body 0.2% 0.6%
Fuel & exhaust 0.0% 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 Ducati ST3 Triumph Sprint
2018 91.5% 86.2%
2019 85.5% 86.1%
2020 86.2% 86.4%
2021 89.2% 86.7%
2022 92.1% 85.9%
2023 82.4% 86.4%
2024 93.8% 86.8%
2025 87.0% 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 Ducati ST3 Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles 91.4% 90.9%
10k-20k miles 88.7% 87.5%
20k-30k miles 83.8% 85.0%
30k-40k miles 84.7% 82.1%
40k-50k miles 78.6% 80.3%

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

Ducati ST3 vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ducati ST3 or the Triumph Sprint?

The Ducati ST3 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 88.0% vs 85.6%, a 2.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+2.7 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 Ducati ST3 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 3.1% of Ducati ST3 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 Ducati ST3 or the Triumph Sprint?

At 40k-50k miles the Triumph Sprint passes first time more often: 78.6% for the Ducati ST3 vs 80.3% for the Triumph Sprint.

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