Triumph BONNEVILLE AMERICA MOT pass rate and common failures
Triumph BONNEVILLE AMERICA motorcycles pass the MOT 89.56% of the time, measured across 316 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.75% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 72.2% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and projected beam image obviously incorrect, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (10.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 17,394 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-15 years | 86.67% | 30 | |
| 16+ years | 89.79% | 284 |
Why the Triumph BONNEVILLE AMERICA fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not working | 72.2% | 13 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 3 | Projected beam image obviously incorrect | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 4 | Excessively loose | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 5 | Grabbing severely | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 6 | Remains on when the brakes are released | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 7 | Rough when rotated | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 8 | Adversely affected by the operation of another lamp | 5.6% | 1 | |
| 9 | Component modification unsafe | 5.6% | 1 | |
| 10 | Contaminated | 5.6% | 1 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 10.1% | 32 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 6% | 19 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.8% | 12 | |
| 4 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.9% | 6 | |
| 5 | Excessively corroded | 1.6% | 5 | |
| 6 | Excessively loose | 1.6% | 5 | |
| 7 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 1.6% | 5 | |
| 8 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 1.3% | 4 | |
| 9 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 0.9% | 3 | |
| 10 | Has excessive play | 0.9% | 3 |
Triumph BONNEVILLE AMERICA for sale
1 Triumph BONNEVILLE AMERICA adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 108 Triumph in total.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph TIGER · 969cc | 16,144 | 91.27% | 22,934 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc | 12,456 | 90.8% | 12,824 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc | 6,022 | 88.01% | 23,152 | |
| Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc | 5,720 | 90.98% | 16,130 | |
| Honda NC · 741cc | 5,311 | 89.53% | 22,765 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method