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Triumph Bonneville 865 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Bonneville 865 car check

Is the Triumph Bonneville 865 reliable? We analysed 6,992 real MOT tests across 666 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,992 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.4%
Typical Mileage
8,972mi
Annual Mileage
611mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Triumph Bonneville 865 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Bonneville 865.

Triumph Bonneville 865 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Triumph Bonneville 865. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Triumph Bonneville 865 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Triumph Bonneville 865 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.7%
2012
90.4%
2011
89.9%
2010
90.4%
2009

Triumph Bonneville 865 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Bonneville 865 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 33
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 30
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 16
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 7

Triumph Bonneville 865 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Triumph Bonneville 865 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 25
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 18

Triumph Bonneville 865 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Triumph Bonneville 865 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
212 mi/yr
Typical
611 mi/yr
Average
1,253 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,478 mi/yr

Triumph Bonneville 865 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Bonneville 865 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 1,463 89.7% 4,792 8,540 14,681
2011 1,850 90.4% 4,757 9,269 16,540
2010 1,840 89.9% 4,837 8,523 16,092
2009 1,579 90.4% 5,160 9,958 17,134

How Long Does a Triumph Bonneville 865 Last?

Based on 666 Triumph Bonneville 865 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.6 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Triumph Bonneville 865 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Bonneville 865 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
8,972 mi
75th Percentile
16,280 mi
95th Percentile
33,257 mi
Max Recorded
445,700 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Bonneville 865

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2009

90.4% MOT pass rate from 1,579 tests

Year to avoid
2012

89.7% MOT pass rate from 1,463 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Bonneville 865 is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.4% across 1,579 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph Bonneville 865 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Bonneville 865 THIS CAR 90.4% 6,992 8,972 mi 17 yrs
Triumph Bonneville 90.1% 235,206 7,823 mi 53 yrs
Triumph Tiger 90.6% 196,853 17,026 mi 32 yrs
Triumph Sprint 87.3% 158,613 21,242 mi 33 yrs
Citroen DS4 Dstyle HDI 83.9% 2,097 88,840 mi — yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Bonneville 865 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph Bonneville 865?

The Triumph Bonneville 865 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.4% across 6,992 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Triumph Bonneville 865 are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (33 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (30), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (16). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Triumph Bonneville 865 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Triumph Bonneville 865 owner drives around 611 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Triumph Bonneville 865 models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Triumph Bonneville 865 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Bonneville 865 reliable?
Based on 6,992 MOT tests, the Triumph Bonneville 865 has a 90.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Bonneville 865?
The most common MOT failures are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Bonneville 865 do per year?
The typical Triumph Bonneville 865 does around 611 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Bonneville 865 last?
Most Triumph Bonneville 865 models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 666 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Bonneville 865?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Triumph Bonneville 865?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Bonneville 865 is 2009 with a 90.4% pass rate across 1,579 tests.