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

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 Thunderbird?

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 Thunderbird?

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 Thunderbird reliable?

Based on MOT data from 231 vehicles, the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.9%, 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 Thunderbird?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.5% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (43.6% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (29.6% 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 Thunderbird?

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 Thunderbird (2013)

231 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.9% first-time pass rate

2013 Triumph Thunderbird

CarHunch analysed 231 real MOT records for the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird. 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 Thunderbird is a genuinely reliable cruiser, passing its MOT first time in 91.9% of cases—well above the 80% UK average. However, one in five of these bikes (19.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection and full service history check are essential.

These Thunderbirds show modest mileage for their age, averaging just 11,879 miles, which suggests many are weekend riders rather than commuters. With fewer than one failure per vehicle on average and nearly three advisories per test, the typical issues are maintenance-related rather than structural—so budget for routine upkeep and tackle any advisory items promptly before they become failures.

We have limited data for the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

91.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.79

Over 9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

10k

Middle half: 7k–15k

For context

These stats describe 231 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 231 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48.5%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front 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.

Exhaust & emissions 29.6%

Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 27.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Lighting 7%

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps · Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) · Headlamp aim too high · …

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

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 231 Triumph Thunderbird cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Triumph Thunderbird

Based on MOT data from 231 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.5% 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 6,289 Triumph Thunderbird vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 30%

1,884

Red 17.4%

1,097

Blue 11.5%

725

Silver 9.4%

591

Maroon 7%

442

Green 6.6%

416

Gold 5.4%

340

Yellow 4.8%

305

Grey 3%

189

White 2.7%

169

Orange 1.8%

115

Purple 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Triumph Thunderbird 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.

9,898

typical

6,771

low mileage

15,048

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Triumph Thunderbird vehicles fall between 6,771 and 15,048 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 6,771 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.

✓ 6,771–15,048 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Triumph Thunderbirds sit.

⚠ Over 20,314 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 Thunderbird — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Triumph Thunderbirds are still being driven.

Strong survival — 177 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.79

Avg failures per vehicle

2.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017

Or browse all models: Triumph →

Compare with another model

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

Average reliability — agree?