Triumph ROCKET III MOT pass rate and common failures
Triumph ROCKET III motorcycles pass the MOT 88.62% of the time, measured across 861 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.46% 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 52.9% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and does not conform to the specified requirements, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (8.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 21,945 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 | 91.41% | 291 | |
| 16+ years | 87.52% | 545 |
Why the Triumph ROCKET III 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 | 52.9% | 27 | |
| 2 | Missing | 31.4% | 16 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 23.5% | 12 | |
| 4 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 21.6% | 11 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 17.6% | 9 | |
| 6 | Too high | 17.6% | 9 | |
| 7 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 13.7% | 7 | |
| 8 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 13.7% | 7 | |
| 9 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 9.8% | 5 | |
| 10 | Contaminated | 7.8% | 4 |
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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 8.2% | 71 | |
| 2 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 7.8% | 67 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 5.3% | 46 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.9% | 25 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.1% | 18 | |
| 6 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.6% | 14 | |
| 7 | Significantly and obviously worn | 1.2% | 10 | |
| 8 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 0.9% | 8 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 0.8% | 7 | |
| 10 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 0.8% | 7 |
Triumph ROCKET III for sale
5 Triumph ROCKET III adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 107 Triumph in total.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph THUNDERBIRD 1600 · 1500-1800cc | 1,767 | 89.3% | 16,841 | |
| BMW K 1600 · 1,649cc | 1,484 | 95.62% | 19,181 | |
| Harley-Davidson FXSB · 1,692cc | 859 | 88.71% | 11,767 | |
| Triumph ROCKET 3 GT · 2,458cc | 570 | 93.68% | 7,759 | |
| Harley-Davidson FXDB · 1,638cc | 544 | 88.05% | 17,081 | |
| BMW K SERIES 1570-1652cc · 1570-1652cc | 524 | 93.32% | 32,918 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method