BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs/vs Ducati Multistrada
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs vs Ducati Multistrada

The Ducati Multistrada passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs: 89.9% vs 88.0%, a 1.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs Ducati Multistrada
First-time pass rate 88.0% 89.9%
Outright fail rate 6.4% 5.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +3.4 pts +3.8 pts
Engine size 1,050cc 1,198cc
Rank among all models #1604 of 5428 #988 of 5428
Median miles at test 17,765 13,468
MOT tests analysed 6,739 24,822
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 Tiger 1050 Abs Ducati Multistrada
Brakes 2.7% 1.9%
Lights & signalling 2.2% 2.2%
Steering & suspension 1.8% 1.1%
Tyres & wheels 1.0% 1.1%
Structure & body 0.3% 0.6%
Fuel & exhaust 0.2% 0.1%
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 Tiger 1050 Abs Ducati Multistrada
2018 87.6% 89.3%
2019 85.8% 89.8%
2020 86.8% 91.8%
2021 87.5% 91.2%
2022 89.2% 91.3%
2023 87.1% 91.8%
2024 88.2% 90.9%
2025 89.0% 91.0%

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 Tiger 1050 Abs Ducati Multistrada
0k-10k miles 89.5% 91.7%
10k-20k miles 89.6% 89.6%
20k-30k miles 87.2% 88.0%
30k-40k miles 84.7% 87.0%
40k-50k miles 83.4% 84.9%
50k-60k miles 85.5% 86.0%

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

Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs vs Ducati Multistrada FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs or the Ducati Multistrada?

The Ducati Multistrada passes its MOT first time more often than the Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs: 89.9% vs 88.0%, a 1.9-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+3.4 vs +3.8 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 Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.7% of Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.2%).

What does the Ducati Multistrada fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.2% of Ducati Multistrada MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.9%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs or the Ducati Multistrada?

They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Triumph Tiger 1050 Abs passes 85.5% first time and the Ducati Multistrada 86.0%.

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