Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Triumph Street Triple?

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 2008 Triumph Street Triple?

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 2008 Triumph Street Triple?

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 2008 Triumph Street Triple reliable?

Based on MOT data from 851 vehicles, the 2008 Triumph Street Triple has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Triumph Street Triple?

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 Street Triple (2008)

851 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.6% first-time pass rate

2008 Triumph Street Triple

CarHunch analysed 851 real MOT records for the 2008 Triumph Street Triple. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Triumph Street Triple passes its MOT on first attempt 80.9% of the time—fractionally above the UK average of 80%—so it's a reliably sound choice mechanically. Only 13% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is well within acceptable limits and shouldn't concern a prospective buyer.

At an average of 14,006 miles, these bikes are relatively lightly used for their age, which partly explains the solid pass rate. With 1.2 failures and 4.0 advisories per vehicle on average, expect minor wear items rather than structural problems—check the exhaust, suspension bushes and brake lines when viewing one, and factor in routine servicing costs.

The 2008 Triumph Street Triple passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (89.6% 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

89.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

13%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.2

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

13k

Middle half: 8k–19k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.6% 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 4 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 851 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.

A solid choice — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 851 Triumph Street Triple cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Triumph Street Triple

Based on MOT data from 851 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	830	89.5%	1.23

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,737 Triumph Street Triple vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 39.1%

1,854

White 22%

1,040

Green 11.4%

542

Red 9.7%

461

Purple 6.3%

297

Grey 4.5%

212

Orange 2.4%

113

Blue 2%

Silver 1.5%

Yellow 1.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Triumph Street Triple 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.

12,691

typical

7,992

low mileage

18,713

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Triumph Street Triple vehicles fall between 7,992 and 18,713 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,992 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.

✓ 7,992–18,713 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Triumph Street Triples sit.

⚠ Over 25,262 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Triumph Street Triple — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 66% of 2008 Triumph Street Triples are still active.

402 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 66% 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.
* 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

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.2

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Or browse all models: Triumph →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Triumph Street Triple stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?