Triumph Speed Triple 1050 vs Honda CB1300

The Honda CB1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Speed Triple 1050: 89.3% vs 85.5%, a 3.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Triumph Speed Triple 1050	Honda CB1300
First-time pass rate	85.5%	89.3%
Outright fail rate	6.9%	5.0%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-0.7 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	1,050cc	1,284cc
Rank among all models	#2363 of 5428	#1180 of 5428
Median miles at test	11,782	15,887
MOT tests analysed	5,740	25,878
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	Triumph Speed Triple 1050	Honda CB1300
Lights & signalling	2.7%	1.6%
Brakes	2.4%	1.4%
Steering & suspension	1.6%	1.5%
Tyres & wheels	1.4%	1.5%
Structure & body	0.7%	0.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	0.2%
Drive system	0.1%	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	Triumph Speed Triple 1050	Honda CB1300
2018	86.4%	89.7%
2019	82.4%	89.7%
2020	86.4%	89.5%
2021	85.1%	88.7%
2022	83.8%	89.5%
2023	87.1%	89.2%
2024	86.9%	90.4%
2025	86.6%	90.4%

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	Triumph Speed Triple 1050	Honda CB1300
0k-10k miles	87.9%	91.9%
10k-20k miles	84.4%	90.2%
20k-30k miles	83.6%	87.8%
30k-40k miles	78.3%	84.9%
40k-50k miles	84.7%	84.8%

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

Triumph Speed Triple 1050 vs Honda CB1300 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 or the Honda CB1300?

The Honda CB1300 passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Speed Triple 1050: 89.3% vs 85.5%, a 3.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CB1300 still comes out ahead: -0.7 points vs comparable bikes for the Triumph Speed Triple 1050, +4.5 for the Honda CB1300. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.7% of Triumph Speed Triple 1050 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.4%).

What does the Honda CB1300 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.6% of Honda CB1300 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 or the Honda CB1300?

They are level: at 40k-50k miles the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 passes 84.7% first time and the Honda CB1300 84.8%.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050 85.5% pass · 5,740 tests HONDA CB1300 89.3% pass · 25.9k tests

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