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Triumph Bonneville America Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Triumph Bonneville America reliable? We analysed 7,487 real MOT tests across 573 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,487 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.8%
Typical Mileage
10,216mi
Annual Mileage
549mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Triumph Bonneville America is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Bonneville America.

Triumph Bonneville America Number Plates

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

Triumph Bonneville America MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

87.7%
2011
82.2%
2010
85%
2009
87.6%
2008
87.8%
2007
88%
2006
89.1%
2005
88%
2004
88.6%
2003
93.9%
2002

Triumph Bonneville America Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 60
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 52
Exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording 35
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 17
wheel bearings have excessive free play 14
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 13

Triumph Bonneville America Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 26
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 24

Triumph Bonneville America Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
183 mi/yr
Typical
549 mi/yr
Average
1,027 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,337 mi/yr

Triumph Bonneville America MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 130 87.7% 6,161 10,250 16,604
2010 118 82.2% 5,400 11,202 17,212
2009 506 85.0% 6,238 9,497 15,846
2008 1,626 87.6% 5,620 9,502 15,350
2007 1,990 87.8% 5,797 10,826 16,870
2006 878 88.0% 4,652 8,712 16,584
2005 608 89.1% 6,567 11,100 17,670
2004 1,101 88.0% 5,713 11,626 19,551
2003 236 88.6% 6,329 11,250 14,882
2002 82 93.9% 5,956 10,401 13,973

How Long Does a Triumph Bonneville America Last?

Based on 573 Triumph Bonneville America vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.8 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Triumph Bonneville America Mileage Distribution

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

Median
10,216 mi
75th Percentile
16,914 mi
95th Percentile
30,923 mi
Max Recorded
317,208 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Bonneville America

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

Best year
2002

93.9% MOT pass rate from 82 tests

Year to avoid
2010

82.2% MOT pass rate from 118 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Bonneville America is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.9% across 82 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.2% — 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 America Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Bonneville America THIS CAR 87.8% 7,487 10,216 mi 23 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
Volkswagen Touareg V6 R-line TDI Bmt A 88.8% 3,649 83,718 mi — yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Bonneville America trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph Bonneville America?

The Triumph Bonneville America has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.8% across 7,487 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 America are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (60 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (52), and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording (35). 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 America 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 America owner drives around 549 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 America models stay on UK roads for around 23 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 America — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Bonneville America reliable?
Based on 7,487 MOT tests, the Triumph Bonneville America has a 87.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Bonneville America?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Bonneville America do per year?
The typical Triumph Bonneville America does around 549 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Bonneville America last?
Most Triumph Bonneville America models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 573 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Bonneville America?
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 America?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Bonneville America is 2002 with a 93.9% pass rate across 82 tests.