BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Triumph Street Triple vs Honda CB600FS

The Triumph Street Triple passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600FS: 87.7% vs 81.8%, a 5.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Triumph Street Triple Honda CB600FS
First-time pass rate 87.7% 81.8%
Outright fail rate 5.9% 10.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +1.3 pts -2.6 pts
Engine size 675cc 599cc
Rank among all models #1695 of 5428 #3218 of 5428
Median miles at test 11,189 17,694
MOT tests analysed 37,699 20,339
Most common failure brakes lighting and signalling

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 Street Triple Honda CB600FS
Lights & signalling 2.6% 4.2%
Brakes 1.6% 3.5%
Steering & suspension 1.2% 3.3%
Tyres & wheels 1.2% 2.7%
Drive system 0.2% 1.1%
Structure & body 0.7% 0.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0.1% 0.5%

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 Street Triple Honda CB600FS
2013 87.3% 80.2%
2014 87.1% 80.9%
2015 88.5% 81.5%
2016 87.6% 80.6%
2017 88.3% 82.8%
2018 87.8% 80.2%
2019 87.9% 79.2%
2020 89.6% 84.8%

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 Triumph Street Triple Honda CB600FS
0k-10k miles 91.3% 89.4%
10k-20k miles 86.7% 83.2%
20k-30k miles 82.7% 77.5%
30k-40k miles 79.9% 76.1%
40k-50k miles 74.6% 74.7%
50k-60k miles 75.6% 75.7%

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

Triumph Street Triple vs Honda CB600FS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Triumph Street Triple or the Honda CB600FS?

The Triumph Street Triple passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600FS: 87.7% vs 81.8%, a 5.9-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Triumph Street Triple still comes out ahead: +1.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Triumph Street Triple, -2.6 for the Honda CB600FS. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Triumph Street Triple fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.6% of Triumph Street Triple MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.6%).

What does the Honda CB600FS fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.2% of Honda CB600FS MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (3.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Triumph Street Triple or the Honda CB600FS?

They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Triumph Street Triple passes 75.6% first time and the Honda CB600FS 75.7%.

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