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Triumph Tiger 800 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Tiger 800 car check

Is the Triumph Tiger 800 reliable? We analysed 8,274 real MOT tests across 826 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,274 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.3%
Typical Mileage
16,634mi
Annual Mileage
1,383mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
15yrs

The Triumph Tiger 800 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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Tiger 800.

Triumph Tiger 800 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Triumph Tiger 800. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Triumph Tiger 800 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Triumph Tiger 800 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.5%
2013
92.5%
2012
92.1%
2011
88.7%
2010

Triumph Tiger 800 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Tiger 800 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 28
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 19
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 13
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 10
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 10

Triumph Tiger 800 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Triumph Tiger 800 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 40
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 32

Triumph Tiger 800 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Triumph Tiger 800 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
548 mi/yr
Typical
1,383 mi/yr
Average
2,037 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,742 mi/yr

Triumph Tiger 800 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Tiger 800 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 120 92.5% 9,456 15,012 28,259
2012 2,855 92.5% 9,662 16,482 25,329
2011 4,728 92.1% 10,280 16,663 25,834
2010 222 88.7% 12,614 18,794 27,596

How Long Does a Triumph Tiger 800 Last?

Based on 826 Triumph Tiger 800 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.9 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
15 years

Triumph Tiger 800 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Tiger 800 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
16,634 mi
75th Percentile
25,654 mi
95th Percentile
43,332 mi
Max Recorded
122,291 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Tiger 800

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

Best year
2012

92.5% MOT pass rate from 2,855 tests

Year to avoid
2010

88.7% MOT pass rate from 222 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger 800 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.5% across 2,855 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.7% — 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 800 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Tiger 800 THIS CAR 92.3% 8,274 16,634 mi 15 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 Golf S Bluemotion Tech TDI 91.4% 6,025 90,964 mi — yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Tiger 800 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph Tiger 800?

The Triumph Tiger 800 has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.3% across 8,274 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 800 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (28 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (19), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (13). 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 Tiger 800 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 Tiger 800 owner drives around 1,383 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 800 models stay on UK roads for around 15 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 800 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Tiger 800 reliable?
Based on 8,274 MOT tests, the Triumph Tiger 800 has a 92.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Tiger 800?
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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Tiger 800 do per year?
The typical Triumph Tiger 800 does around 1,383 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Tiger 800 last?
Most Triumph Tiger 800 models stay on UK roads for around 15 years based on our analysis of 826 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Tiger 800?
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 800?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger 800 is 2012 with a 92.5% pass rate across 2,855 tests.