BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Honda CB1300/vs Triumph Speed Triple
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Honda CB1300 vs Triumph Speed Triple

The Honda CB1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Speed Triple: 89.3% vs 85.6%, a 3.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Honda CB1300 Triumph Speed Triple
First-time pass rate 89.3% 85.6%
Outright fail rate 5.0% 7.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +4.5 pts -0.2 pts
Engine size 1,284cc 1,050cc
Rank among all models #1180 of 5428 #2333 of 5428
Median miles at test 15,887 12,419
MOT tests analysed 25,878 74,618
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 Honda CB1300 Triumph Speed Triple
Lights & signalling 1.6% 3.2%
Brakes 1.4% 2.3%
Steering & suspension 1.5% 1.6%
Tyres & wheels 1.5% 1.6%
Structure & body 0.2% 0.7%
Fuel & exhaust 0.2% 0.3%
Drive system 0.1% 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 Honda CB1300 Triumph Speed Triple
2018 89.7% 85.9%
2019 89.7% 85.7%
2020 89.5% 88.2%
2021 88.7% 86.6%
2022 89.5% 87.2%
2023 89.2% 87.3%
2024 90.4% 87.3%
2025 90.4% 87.7%

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 Honda CB1300 Triumph Speed Triple
0k-10k miles 91.9% 88.2%
10k-20k miles 90.2% 85.5%
20k-30k miles 87.8% 82.8%
30k-40k miles 84.9% 80.4%
40k-50k miles 84.8% 80.3%
50k-60k miles 82.9% 79.6%

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

Honda CB1300 vs Triumph Speed Triple FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda CB1300 or the Triumph Speed Triple?

The Honda CB1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Speed Triple: 89.3% vs 85.6%, a 3.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CB1300 still comes out ahead: +4.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda CB1300, -0.2 for the Triumph Speed Triple. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda CB1300 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.6% of Honda CB1300 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.5%).

What does the Triumph Speed Triple fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.2% of Triumph Speed Triple MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.3%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda CB1300 or the Triumph Speed Triple?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda CB1300 passes first time more often: 82.9% for the Honda CB1300 vs 79.6% for the Triumph Speed Triple.

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