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Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Bonneville Scrambler car check

Is the Triumph Bonneville Scrambler reliable? We analysed 2,260 real MOT tests across 234 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,260 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.7%
Typical Mileage
7,753mi
Annual Mileage
505mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
20yrs

The Triumph Bonneville Scrambler 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 exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Bonneville Scrambler.

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Number Plates

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

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

83.6%
2012
86.5%
2011
87.1%
2010
87.1%
2009
91.2%
2008
87.4%
2007
83.7%
2006

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler 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 10
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 9
Exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording 7
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 7
reflector on motorcycle missing 6

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Common Faults & Problems

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

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 14
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
171 mi/yr
Typical
505 mi/yr
Average
994 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,255 mi/yr

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 244 83.6% 4,634 8,644 15,812
2011 474 86.5% 4,548 7,456 11,544
2010 295 87.1% 3,857 7,121 13,306
2009 311 87.1% 4,578 7,756 11,675
2008 250 91.2% 5,214 8,664 19,639
2007 190 87.4% 4,104 9,068 19,291
2006 343 83.7% 4,522 7,834 18,920

How Long Does a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Last?

Based on 234 Triumph Bonneville Scrambler vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.5 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
20 years

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler Mileage Distribution

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

Median
7,753 mi
75th Percentile
14,164 mi
95th Percentile
29,818 mi
Max Recorded
363,060 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Bonneville Scrambler

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

Best year
2008

91.2% MOT pass rate from 250 tests

Year to avoid
2012

83.6% MOT pass rate from 244 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Bonneville Scrambler is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.2% across 250 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.6% — 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 Scrambler Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Bonneville Scrambler THIS CAR 86.7% 2,260 7,753 mi 20 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
Lexmoto Xflm 66.8% 4,310 8,272 mi 11 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Triumph Bonneville Scrambler?

The Triumph Bonneville Scrambler has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.7% across 2,260 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 Scrambler are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (10 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (9), and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording (7). 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 brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler 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 Scrambler owner drives around 505 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 Scrambler models stay on UK roads for around 20 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 Scrambler — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Bonneville Scrambler reliable?
Based on 2,260 MOT tests, the Triumph Bonneville Scrambler has a 86.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler?
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 exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler do per year?
The typical Triumph Bonneville Scrambler does around 505 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler last?
Most Triumph Bonneville Scrambler models stay on UK roads for around 20 years based on our analysis of 234 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler?
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 Scrambler?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Bonneville Scrambler is 2008 with a 91.2% pass rate across 250 tests.