Triumph Bonneville America (2008)
2008 Triumph Bonneville America
CarHunch analysed 149 real MOT records for the 2008 Triumph Bonneville America. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2008 Triumph Bonneville America has a first-time pass rate of 77.8%, slightly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes are marginally less reliable than typical vehicles their age. The 18.1% that have experienced dangerous defects is a concerning note for buyers—it's well above what you'd want to see, so mechanical inspection before purchase is essential.
These Bonnevilles are running surprisingly low mileage for their age, averaging just 10,606 miles, which suggests many have been garage queens rather than workhorses. With 1.34 failures per vehicle on average and 4.4 advisories, the issues tend to be minor wear items rather than catastrophic failures—the real catch is that nearly one in five has shown a serious safety defect at some point, so get any prospective purchase checked by a Triumph specialist before committing.
What to check before buying a 2008 Triumph Bonneville America
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Triumph Bonneville America
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (97%) | 144 | 77.1% | 1.39 |
| Other (3%) | 5 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 Triumph Bonneville America vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2008 Triumph Bonneville America vehicles fall between 5,756 and 14,304 miles.
2008 Triumph Bonneville America — Still on the Road
77 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 69% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Triumph Bonneville America?
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