Triumph TIGER 1200 GT EXPLORER MOT pass rate and common failures
Triumph TIGER 1200 GT EXPLORER motorcycles pass the MOT 96.85% of the time, measured across 222 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.8% 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 less than 1.0 mm thick - it accounts for 66.7% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check fractured and missing, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (7.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 10,386 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 96.85% | 222 |
Why the Triumph TIGER 1200 GT EXPLORER 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 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 66.7% | 2 | |
| 2 | Fractured | 33.3% | 1 | |
| 3 | Missing | 33.3% | 1 | |
| 4 | Not working | 33.3% | 1 | |
| 5 | Too low | 33.3% | 1 | |
| 6 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 33.3% | 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 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 7.2% | 16 | |
| 2 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 3.2% | 7 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.2% | 7 | |
| 4 | Excessively distorted | 0.9% | 2 | |
| 5 | Has excessive wear or free play | 0.9% | 2 | |
| 6 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 0.9% | 2 | |
| 7 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 0.9% | 2 | |
| 8 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.9% | 2 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 0.5% | 1 | |
| 10 | Has excessive play | 0.5% | 1 |
Triumph TIGER 1200 GT EXPLORER for sale
No Triumph TIGER 1200 GT EXPLORER in stock at the moment - 108 other Triumph bikes are advertised.
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 R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| BMW R1200 · 1,170cc | 9,521 | 94.43% | 28,830 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| BMW R1250 · 1,254cc | 6,764 | 96.17% | 17,373 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method