BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Honda ST1300/vs Triumph Sprint
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Honda ST1300 vs Triumph Sprint

The Honda ST1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 89.7% vs 85.6%, a 4.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Honda ST1300 Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate 89.7% 85.6%
Outright fail rate 6.6% 8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +7.5 pts +1.8 pts
Engine size 1,261cc 955cc
Rank among all models #1049 of 5428 #2333 of 5428
Median miles at test 30,749 20,615
MOT tests analysed 32,093 132,827
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 ST1300 Triumph Sprint
Brakes 2.9% 3.7%
Lights & signalling 1.5% 2.8%
Steering & suspension 1.8% 2.5%
Tyres & wheels 2.1% 2.2%
Structure & body 0.1% 0.6%
Drive system 0% 0.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0.2% 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 ST1300 Triumph Sprint
2018 88.3% 86.2%
2019 89.8% 86.1%
2020 89.3% 86.4%
2021 89.0% 86.7%
2022 89.6% 85.9%
2023 88.7% 86.4%
2024 88.1% 86.8%
2025 88.6% 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 Honda ST1300 Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles 95.4% 90.9%
10k-20k miles 92.1% 87.5%
20k-30k miles 90.5% 85.0%
30k-40k miles 89.0% 82.1%
40k-50k miles 88.0% 80.3%
50k-60k miles 87.0% 79.3%

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

Honda ST1300 vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda ST1300 or the Triumph Sprint?

The Honda ST1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Sprint: 89.7% vs 85.6%, a 4.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda ST1300 still comes out ahead: +7.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda ST1300, +1.8 for the Triumph Sprint. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda ST1300 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.9% of Honda ST1300 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (2.1%).

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 Honda ST1300 or the Triumph Sprint?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda ST1300 passes first time more often: 87.0% for the Honda ST1300 vs 79.3% for the Triumph Sprint.

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