Triumph THUNDERBIRD 1600 MOT pass rate and common failures
Triumph THUNDERBIRD 1600 motorcycles pass the MOT 89.3% of the time, measured across 1,767 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.24% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
Calculated from DVSA records for Triumph THUNDERBIRD, 1500-1800cc.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm - it accounts for 24.6% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps and not working, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (8.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 16,841 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-10 years | 90.01% | 711 | |
| 11-15 years | 88.99% | 1,017 |
Why the Triumph THUNDERBIRD 1600 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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 24.6% | 28 | |
| 2 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 21.9% | 25 | |
| 3 | Not working | 21.1% | 24 | |
| 4 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 19.3% | 22 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 14.9% | 17 | |
| 6 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 12.3% | 14 | |
| 7 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 11.4% | 13 | |
| 8 | Projected beam image obviously incorrect | 6.1% | 7 | |
| 9 | Not working on dipped beam | 5.3% | 6 | |
| 10 | Too high | 5.3% | 6 |
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 | 8.8% | 155 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 5.1% | 91 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 3.7% | 65 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3.3% | 59 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 1.7% | 30 | |
| 6 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.5% | 26 | |
| 7 | Excessively binding | 0.7% | 12 | |
| 8 | Excessively loose | 0.6% | 11 | |
| 9 | Excessively corroded | 0.6% | 10 | |
| 10 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 0.3% | 6 |
Triumph THUNDERBIRD 1600 for sale
No Triumph THUNDERBIRD 1600 in stock at the moment - 107 other Triumph bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R1200 · 1,170cc | 9,521 | 94.43% | 28,830 | |
| BMW R1250 · 1,254cc | 6,764 | 96.17% | 17,373 | |
| BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc | 6,170 | 95.28% | 27,241 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 1200cc · 1196-1200cc | 5,527 | 91.62% | 8,342 | |
| Suzuki GSF1200 · 1,159cc | 4,061 | 84.68% | 29,337 | |
| Yamaha XJR1300 · 1,251cc | 3,805 | 90.43% | 26,274 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method