Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Triumph Tiger?

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 2018 Triumph Tiger?

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 2018 Triumph Tiger?

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 2018 Triumph Tiger reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,097 vehicles, the 2018 Triumph Tiger has a first-time MOT pass rate of 95%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Triumph Tiger?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Triumph Tiger are: Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (25.5% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.4% 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 2018 Triumph Tiger?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Triumph Tiger (2018)

2,097 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95% first-time pass rate

2018 Triumph Tiger

CarHunch analysed 2,097 real MOT records for the 2018 Triumph Tiger. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 2018 Triumph Tiger passes its MOT first time in 95% of cases—well above the UK average of 80%—and only 10% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, making this a genuinely reliable choice for a middleweight adventure bike. Owners can expect minimal failures (0.3 per vehicle on average), though minor advisories do crop up regularly at 1.4 per vehicle.

At a median mileage of just 11,359 miles for a six-year-old machine, these Tigers have been ridden sparingly, which partly explains the strong pass rate; the real test comes if you're buying one with significantly higher usage. Focus your pre-purchase inspection on the advisories—typically wear items like brake pads and tyres—rather than structural problems, and you'll have a straightforward ownership experience.

The 2018 Triumph Tiger passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (95% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

95%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.3

Over 4.9 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

11k

Middle half: 7k–17k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 95% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔍 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 2,097 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?

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,097 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 25.5%

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

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

Tyre wear 23%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front 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.

Other issues 16%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 11.3%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy · Rear Wheel bearing has slight play

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

Lighting 8.8%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too low

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

Exhaust & emissions 6.4%

Exhaust noisy

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,097 Triumph Tiger cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Triumph Tiger

Based on MOT data from 2,097 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10% 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 24,753 Triumph Tiger vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 22.8%

5,641

White 22.4%

5,555

Blue 19.1%

4,728

Red 10%

2,477

Silver 7.8%

1,936

Green 7.7%

1,909

Grey 4.1%

1,026

Orange 3.7%

920

Yellow 1.7%

426

Multi-colour 0.2%

Maroon 0.2%

Gold 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Triumph Tiger 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.

11,359

typical

7,415

low mileage

16,617

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Triumph Tiger vehicles fall between 7,415 and 16,617 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,415 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.

✓ 7,415–16,617 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Triumph Tigers sit.

⚠ Over 22,432 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Triumph Tiger — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Triumph Tigers are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,800 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 95% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.3

Avg failures per vehicle

1.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Triumph →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Triumph Tiger stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?