Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Triumph S?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Triumph S?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Triumph S?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2013 Triumph S reliable?

Based on MOT data from 653 vehicles, the 2013 Triumph S has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Triumph S?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Triumph S are: Exhaust noisy (54.5% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39.4% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (31.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Triumph S?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Triumph S (2013)

653 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.2% first-time pass rate

2013 Triumph S

CarHunch analysed 653 real MOT records for the 2013 Triumph S. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Triumph S is significantly more reliable than the UK average, with a 90.1% first-time pass rate compared to 80%—a genuinely impressive result that suggests these bikes are well-maintained by their owners. The dangerous defect rate of 13% is mercifully low, so you're unlikely to inherit a safety-critical problem.

These Triumphs show modest mileage for their age (median 10,299 miles), which means most are lightly used rather than worn-out, and the 0.93 average failures per vehicle reflects that. When advisories do crop up, they're typically minor—3.6 on average—so budget for small maintenance but don't expect nasty surprises; have any prospective purchase inspected by a Triumph-familiar mechanic to confirm its service history.

The 2013 Triumph S passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (90.2% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

90.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

13%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.93

Over 8.3 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

10k

Middle half: 6k–15k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 653 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 653 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 54.5%

Exhaust noisy · Rear Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 39.4%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 21.6%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake binding but not excessively · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 15.6%

Rear reflector missing · Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 15.3%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 5.3%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 653 Triumph S cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Triumph S

Based on MOT data from 653 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,791 Triumph S vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 31.2%

1,494

Black 28.3%

1,357

Grey 11.6%

554

Silver 9.1%

435

Red 8.6%

414

Blue 4.9%

236

Green 3.8%

182

Yellow 1.2%

Purple 0.6%

Orange 0.4%

Brown 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Triumph S vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

10,299

typical

6,225

low mileage

15,335

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Triumph S vehicles fall between 6,225 and 15,335 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 6,225 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 6,225–15,335 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Triumph Ss sit.

⚠ Over 20,702 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Triumph S — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Triumph Ss are still being driven.

Strong survival — 443 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.93

Avg failures per vehicle

3.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Triumph S: All S years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2013 Triumph S stacks up against a rival.

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