Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty vs Triumph Thunderbird

The Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Thunderbird: 92.2% vs 87.8%, a 4.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty	Triumph Thunderbird
First-time pass rate	92.2%	87.8%
Outright fail rate	3.1%	6.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+3.4 pts	+2.1 pts
Engine size	1,000cc	885cc
Rank among all models	#434 of 5428	#1669 of 5428
Median miles at test	4,845	13,106
MOT tests analysed	1,103	56,312
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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	Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty	Triumph Thunderbird
Lights & signalling	1.5%	2.2%
Brakes	0.6%	2.0%
Tyres & wheels	0.5%	1.6%
Steering & suspension	0.7%	1.3%
Structure & body	0.3%	0.3%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.4%
Drive system	0%	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	Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty	Triumph Thunderbird
2019	94.5%	87.7%
2020	91.0%	88.8%
2021	94.9%	88.2%
2022	94.1%	88.9%
2023	88.8%	90.5%
2024	92.0%	88.2%
2025	91.4%	89.5%

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	Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty	Triumph Thunderbird
0k-10k miles	92.8%	90.5%
10k-20k miles	89.6%	87.3%
20k-30k miles	89.5%	85.4%

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

Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty vs Triumph Thunderbird FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty or the Triumph Thunderbird?

The Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Thunderbird: 92.2% vs 87.8%, a 4.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty still comes out ahead: +3.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty, +2.1 for the Triumph Thunderbird. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.5% of Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (0.7%).

What does the Triumph Thunderbird fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.2% of Triumph Thunderbird MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty or the Triumph Thunderbird?

At 20k-30k miles the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty passes first time more often: 89.5% for the Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty vs 85.4% for the Triumph Thunderbird.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SCOUT SIXTY 92.2% pass · 1,103 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.