BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Honda VFR750F/vs Triumph Sprint
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Honda VFR750F vs Triumph Sprint

The Triumph Sprint passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR750F: 85.6% vs 83.4%, a 2.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Honda VFR750F Triumph Sprint
First-time pass rate 83.4% 85.6%
Outright fail rate 10.9% 8.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +2.2 pts +1.8 pts
Engine size 748cc 955cc
Rank among all models #2868 of 5428 #2333 of 5428
Median miles at test 35,903 20,615
MOT tests analysed 58,979 132,827
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 VFR750F Triumph Sprint
Brakes 4.7% 3.7%
Steering & suspension 4.0% 2.5%
Lights & signalling 3.3% 2.8%
Tyres & wheels 2.4% 2.2%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.6%
Drive system 0.7% 0.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0.9% 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 VFR750F Triumph Sprint
2018 86.2% 86.2%
2019 85.7% 86.1%
2020 87.1% 86.4%
2021 86.1% 86.7%
2022 87.6% 85.9%
2023 88.0% 86.4%
2024 88.4% 86.8%
2025 89.2% 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 VFR750F Triumph Sprint
0k-10k miles 89.0% 90.9%
10k-20k miles 89.4% 87.5%
20k-30k miles 85.9% 85.0%
30k-40k miles 83.0% 82.1%
40k-50k miles 81.9% 80.3%
50k-60k miles 79.7% 79.3%

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

Honda VFR750F vs Triumph Sprint FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda VFR750F or the Triumph Sprint?

The Triumph Sprint passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR750F: 85.6% vs 83.4%, a 2.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+2.2 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 Honda VFR750F fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.7% of Honda VFR750F MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (4.0%).

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 VFR750F or the Triumph Sprint?

They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Honda VFR750F passes 79.7% first time and the Triumph Sprint 79.3%.

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