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Triumph Tiger 90 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Tiger 90 car check

Is the Triumph Tiger 90 reliable? We analysed 1,803 real MOT tests across 266 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,803 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.2%
Typical Mileage
12,642mi
Annual Mileage
172mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
63yrs

The Triumph Tiger 90 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, wheel bearings have excessive free play and steering lock stop ineffective. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Tiger 90.

Triumph Tiger 90 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Triumph Tiger 90. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Triumph Tiger 90 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Triumph Tiger 90 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.2%
1969
89.8%
1968
93%
1967
90.8%
1966
88.7%
1965
90.4%
1964
89.4%
1963

Triumph Tiger 90 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Tiger 90 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 7
wheel bearings have excessive free play 5
Steering lock stop ineffective 5
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 5
suspension bush has excessive free play 4
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 4
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 4
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s 4
Roller brake test indicates a severely juddering brake 3
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 3

Triumph Tiger 90 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Triumph Tiger 90 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
47 mi/yr
Typical
172 mi/yr
Average
587 mi/yr
Heavy usage
442 mi/yr

Triumph Tiger 90 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Tiger 90 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1969 57 91.2% 14,632 23,828 32,520
1968 108 89.8% 9,203 19,706 31,113
1967 158 93.0% 1,850 19,488 36,718
1966 249 90.8% 2,611 5,749 25,719
1965 301 88.7% 2,252 12,117 36,957
1964 406 90.4% 3,650 12,540 25,795
1963 199 89.4% 3,204 11,861 41,515

How Long Does a Triumph Tiger 90 Last?

Based on 266 Triumph Tiger 90 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
46.0 years
Median
49.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
63 years

Triumph Tiger 90 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Tiger 90 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
12,642 mi
75th Percentile
30,243 mi
95th Percentile
54,326 mi
Max Recorded
96,347 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Tiger 90

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

Best year
1967

93.0% MOT pass rate from 158 tests

Year to avoid
1965

88.7% MOT pass rate from 301 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger 90 is 1967, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.0% across 158 tests. The 1965 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 90 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Tiger 90 THIS CAR 90.2% 1,803 12,642 mi 63 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
Sym Vs 125 81.1% 1,238 14,041 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Tiger 90 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph Tiger 90?

The Triumph Tiger 90 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.2% across 1,803 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 90 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (7 recorded failures), wheel bearings have excessive free play (5), and steering lock stop ineffective (5). 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 90 owner drives around 172 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 90 models stay on UK roads for around 63 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 90 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Tiger 90 reliable?
Based on 1,803 MOT tests, the Triumph Tiger 90 has a 90.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Tiger 90?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, wheel bearings have excessive free play, and steering lock stop ineffective. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Tiger 90 do per year?
The typical Triumph Tiger 90 does around 172 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Tiger 90 last?
Most Triumph Tiger 90 models stay on UK roads for around 63 years based on our analysis of 266 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Tiger 90?
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 90?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger 90 is 1967 with a 93.0% pass rate across 158 tests.