BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Honda CB600SF/vs Triumph Street Triple
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Honda CB600SF vs Triumph Street Triple

The Triumph Street Triple passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600SF: 87.7% vs 82.0%, a 5.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Honda CB600SF Triumph Street Triple
First-time pass rate 82.0% 87.7%
Outright fail rate 10.4% 5.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -2.8 pts +1.3 pts
Engine size 599cc 675cc
Rank among all models #3181 of 5428 #1695 of 5428
Median miles at test 16,370 11,189
MOT tests analysed 11,688 37,699
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 Honda CB600SF Triumph Street Triple
Lights & signalling 4.5% 2.6%
Brakes 3.6% 1.6%
Steering & suspension 3.2% 1.2%
Tyres & wheels 2.7% 1.2%
Drive system 1.1% 0.2%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.7%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 0.1%

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 CB600SF Triumph Street Triple
2013 83.5% 87.3%
2014 82.7% 87.1%
2015 82.7% 88.5%
2016 83.5% 87.6%
2017 81.7% 88.3%
2018 81.7% 87.8%
2019 82.6% 87.9%
2020 82.6% 89.6%

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 CB600SF Triumph Street Triple
0k-10k miles 90.2% 91.3%
10k-20k miles 83.6% 86.7%
20k-30k miles 77.6% 82.7%
30k-40k miles 72.5% 79.9%
40k-50k miles 70.7% 74.6%
50k-60k miles 69.7% 75.6%

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

Honda CB600SF vs Triumph Street Triple FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda CB600SF or the Triumph Street Triple?

The Triumph Street Triple passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600SF: 87.7% vs 82.0%, a 5.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Triumph Street Triple still comes out ahead: -2.8 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda CB600SF, +1.3 for the Triumph Street Triple. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda CB600SF fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.5% of Honda CB600SF MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (3.6%).

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

Lights & signalling: 2.6% of Triumph Street Triple MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda CB600SF or the Triumph Street Triple?

At 50k-60k miles the Triumph Street Triple passes first time more often: 69.7% for the Honda CB600SF vs 75.6% for the Triumph Street Triple.

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