HONDA SHADOW vs TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD

The TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD passes its MOT first time more often than the HONDA SHADOW — 87.8% vs 81.0%, a 6.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	HONDA SHADOW	TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD
First-time pass rate	81.0%	87.8%
Outright fail rate	11.2%	6.2%
Median miles at test	18,246	13,106
MOT tests analysed	6,066	56,312
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.

HONDA SHADOW 81.0% pass · 6,066 tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests

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