Triumph TIGER 800 XC MOT pass rate and common failures

Triumph TIGER 800 XC motorcycles pass the MOT 91.04% of the time, measured across 268 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.48% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 4.2 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 91.04% 244 of 268
Fixed at the station 4.48% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 26,597 miles
Average age at test 13.71 years old
Engine 800cc MOT class 2
For sale now 1 Triumph TIGER 800 XC adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with insecure - it accounts for 25% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and not working, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (4.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 26,597 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 91.39% 267

Why the Triumph TIGER 800 XC 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 Insecure 25% 3
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 25% 3
3 Not working 25% 3
4 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 16.7% 2
5 Likely to become detached 16.7% 2
6 So loose it is likely to fail 16.7% 2
7 Worn to excess 16.7% 2
8 Control functioning such that safe operation of the motorcycle is adversely affected 8.3% 1
9 Excessively binding 8.3% 1
10 Excessively loose 8.3% 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 4.5% 12
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4.1% 11
3 Excessively loose 1.5% 4
4 Has a major leak of exhaust gases 1.5% 4
5 Worn to excess 1.5% 4
6 Excessively stiff or notchy 1.1% 3
7 Has excessive play 1.1% 3
8 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 1.1% 3
9 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 1.1% 3
10 Tread not clearly visible 1.1% 3

Triumph TIGER 800 XC for sale

1 Triumph TIGER 800 XC 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

Triumph TIGER 800 XC MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Triumph TIGER 800 XC?+
91.04% of Triumph TIGER 800 XC MOT tests end in a pass, based on 268 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Triumph TIGER 800 XC?+
Insecure, which appears in 25% of failed tests on this model.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
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