Yamaha Tenere 700 vs Triumph Tiger 800

The Triumph Tiger 800 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha Tenere 700: 91.6% vs 91.5%, a 0.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Yamaha Tenere 700	Triumph Tiger 800
First-time pass rate	91.5%	91.6%
Outright fail rate	4.0%	4.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+3.5 pts	+6.5 pts
Engine size	689cc	800cc
Rank among all models	#567 of 5428	#546 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,396	16,027
MOT tests analysed	2,982	6,797
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	Yamaha Tenere 700	Triumph Tiger 800
Lights & signalling	2.0%	1.1%
Brakes	0.9%	1.8%
Steering & suspension	0.9%	1.2%
Tyres & wheels	0.4%	1.1%
Structure & body	0.7%	0.5%
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	Yamaha Tenere 700	Triumph Tiger 800
2022	92.0%	92.8%
2023	90.7%	90.2%
2024	91.3%	92.1%
2025	92.3%	89.4%

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	Yamaha Tenere 700	Triumph Tiger 800
0k-10k miles	92.1%	94.4%
10k-20k miles	91.3%	91.9%
20k-30k miles	88.0%	90.2%
30k-40k miles	86.7%	89.0%

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

Yamaha Tenere 700 vs Triumph Tiger 800 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Yamaha Tenere 700 or the Triumph Tiger 800?

The Triumph Tiger 800 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha Tenere 700: 91.6% vs 91.5%, a 0.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Triumph Tiger 800 still comes out ahead: +3.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Yamaha Tenere 700, +6.5 for the Triumph Tiger 800. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Yamaha Tenere 700 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.0% of Yamaha Tenere 700 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (0.9%).

What does the Triumph Tiger 800 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 1.8% of Triumph Tiger 800 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Yamaha Tenere 700 or the Triumph Tiger 800?

At 30k-40k miles the Triumph Tiger 800 passes first time more often: 86.7% for the Yamaha Tenere 700 vs 89.0% for the Triumph Tiger 800.

YAMAHA TENERE 700 91.5% pass · 2,982 tests TRIUMPH TIGER 800 91.6% pass · 6,797 tests

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