1981 Triumph Bonneville — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

93.3%

Latest Pass Rate

945

Total Tests (All Years)

18,884 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 Triumph Bonneville as it ages.

28 yrs89.1%

→ ↓3.2%

29 yrs85.9%

→ ↑2.0%

30 yrs87.9%

→ ↓6.9%

31 yrs81.0%

→ ↑8.0%

32 yrs89.0%

→ ↓0.2%

33 yrs88.8%

→ ↓1.5%

34 yrs87.3%

→ ↓2.4%

35 yrs84.9%

→ ↑1.0%

36 yrs85.9%

→ ↓4.8%

37 yrs81.1%

→ ↑7.8%

38 yrs88.9%

→ ↑1.8%

39 yrs90.7%

→ ↑2.6%

40 yrs93.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	89.1%	101
29 yrs	85.9%	85
30 yrs	87.9%	91
31 yrs	81.0%	79
32 yrs	89.0%	82
33 yrs	88.8%	89
34 yrs	87.3%	79
35 yrs	84.9%	73
36 yrs	85.9%	71
37 yrs	81.1%	53
38 yrs	88.9%	54
39 yrs	90.7%	43
40 yrs	93.3%	45

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Triumph Bonneville pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	93.3%	45
2020 (39 yrs)	90.7%	43
2019 (38 yrs)	88.9%	54
2018 (37 yrs)	81.1%	53
2017 (36 yrs)	85.9%	71
2016 (35 yrs)	84.9%	73
2015 (34 yrs)	87.3%	79
2014 (33 yrs)	88.8%	89
2013 (32 yrs)	89%	82
2012 (31 yrs)	81%	79
2011 (30 yrs)	87.9%	91
2010 (29 yrs)	85.9%	85
2009 (28 yrs)	89.1%	101

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

89.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 101Avg Mileage 20,491Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.9%

2010

85.9%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 85Avg Mileage 19,163Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.1%

2011

87.9%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 91Avg Mileage 20,229Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.7%

2012

81.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 79Avg Mileage 17,607Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.9%

2013

89.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 82Avg Mileage 17,687Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.4%

2014

88.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 89Avg Mileage 17,086Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.0%

2015

87.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 79Avg Mileage 18,269Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.7%

2016

84.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 73Avg Mileage 17,931Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 19.2%

2017

85.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 71Avg Mileage 19,066Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.9%

2018

81.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 53Avg Mileage 17,848Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 11.3%

2019

88.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 54Avg Mileage 15,648Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 5.6%

2020

90.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 43Avg Mileage 16,763Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 16.3%

2021

93.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 45Avg Mileage 18,884Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 6.7%

MOT results for 1981 Triumph Bonneville by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	89.1%	101	20,491	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.9%
2010	29	85.9%	85	19,163	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.1%
2011	30	87.9%	91	20,229	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.7%
2012	31	81.0%	79	17,607	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.9%
2013	32	89.0%	82	17,687	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.4%
2014	33	88.8%	89	17,086	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.0%
2015	34	87.3%	79	18,269	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.7%
2016	35	84.9%	73	17,931	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 19.2%
2017	36	85.9%	71	19,066	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.9%
2018	37	81.1%	53	17,848	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 11.3%
2019	38	88.9%	54	15,648	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 5.6%
2020	39	90.7%	43	16,763	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 16.3%
2021	40	93.3%	45	18,884	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 6.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Triumph Bonneville, with age trends.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

10.5%

— Consistent

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

10.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle wheels

4.7%

— Consistent

Motorcycle steering and suspension

4.5%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle tyres and wheels

3.8%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Not enough data to compare failures across ages.

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Triumph Bonneville page →

About This Data

This page shows how Triumph Bonneville cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 945 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.