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Triumph Tiger 100 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Tiger 100 car check

Is the Triumph Tiger 100 reliable? We analysed 2,049 real MOT tests across 354 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,049 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.6%
Typical Mileage
9,496mi
Annual Mileage
203mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
71yrs

The Triumph Tiger 100 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Tiger 100.

Triumph Tiger 100 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Triumph Tiger 100. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Triumph Tiger 100 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Triumph Tiger 100 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.7%
1970
86.5%
1969
92.6%
1968
91.4%
1967
90.2%
1966
86.4%
1965
91%
1964
90%
1963
94.3%
1962
92.7%
1960
96.9%
1959
95.4%
1957
95.4%
1955

Triumph Tiger 100 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Tiger 100 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Steering headbearing has excessive free play 13
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 9
Horn not working 6
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 5
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 5
suspension has excessive stiffness in the suspension movement. 5
wheel bearings have excessive free play 5
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 4
Headlamp aim too high 4
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 4

Triumph Tiger 100 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Triumph Tiger 100 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
55 mi/yr
Typical
203 mi/yr
Average
879 mi/yr
Heavy usage
510 mi/yr

Triumph Tiger 100 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Tiger 100 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1970 56 85.7% 3,536 14,170 60,097
1969 104 86.5% 928 5,122 15,664
1968 54 92.6% 2,367 11,304 26,884
1967 139 91.4% 10,331 18,863 49,201
1966 122 90.2% 3,167 21,075 35,995
1965 125 86.4% 2,679 14,168 29,330
1964 122 91.0% 2,984 6,984 11,572
1963 50 90.0% 86 3,088 4,169
1962 87 94.3% 2,680 8,405 12,265
1960 151 92.7% 1,522 21,845 40,402
1959 64 96.9% 615 15,296 36,783
1957 65 95.4% 3,572 17,768 34,054
1955 65 95.4% 1,941 37,363 56,675

How Long Does a Triumph Tiger 100 Last?

Based on 354 Triumph Tiger 100 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
43.3 years
Median
49.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
71 years

Triumph Tiger 100 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Tiger 100 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
9,496 mi
75th Percentile
26,056 mi
95th Percentile
59,385 mi
Max Recorded
391,010 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Tiger 100

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

Best year
1959

96.9% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

Year to avoid
1970

85.7% MOT pass rate from 56 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger 100 is 1959, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.9% across 64 tests. The 1970 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph Tiger 100 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Tiger 100 THIS CAR 90.6% 2,049 9,496 mi 71 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
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber 90.7% 2,488 4,208 mi — yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Tiger 100 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph Tiger 100?

The Triumph Tiger 100 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.6% across 2,049 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 Tiger 100 are steering headbearing has excessive free play (13 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (9), and horn not working (6). 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.

A typical Triumph Tiger 100 owner drives around 203 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 Tiger 100 models stay on UK roads for around 71 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 Tiger 100 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Tiger 100 reliable?
Based on 2,049 MOT tests, the Triumph Tiger 100 has a 90.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Tiger 100?
The most common MOT failures are steering headbearing has excessive free play, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and horn not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Tiger 100 do per year?
The typical Triumph Tiger 100 does around 203 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Tiger 100 last?
Most Triumph Tiger 100 models stay on UK roads for around 71 years based on our analysis of 354 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Tiger 100?
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 Tiger 100?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger 100 is 1959 with a 96.9% pass rate across 64 tests.