Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Triumph Trident?

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 2021 Triumph Trident?

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 2021 Triumph Trident?

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 2021 Triumph Trident reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,301 vehicles, the 2021 Triumph Trident 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 2021 Triumph Trident?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Triumph Trident are: Drive chain slightly loose (16.2% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (15.7% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (13.6% 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 2021 Triumph Trident?

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 Trident (2021)

1,301 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95% first-time pass rate

2021 Triumph Trident

CarHunch analysed 1,301 real MOT records for the 2021 Triumph Trident. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Triumph Trident is a reliably built motorcycle, with an 88.2% first-time MOT pass rate that sits comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are rare at just 2.1%. This is a genuinely well-engineered bike with minimal structural or safety issues showing up in the test data.

With a median mileage of only 4,772 miles for a three-year-old machine, these are lightly used bikes, and that explains why owners are averaging just 0.14 failures per vehicle—there's simply less wear to find. When advisories do crop up, they're minor (0.4 per bike on average), suggesting routine maintenance rather than design problems. If you're shopping for one, a pre-purchase inspection should focus on service history rather than bracing for hidden defects.

The 2021 Triumph Trident 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.

First-time pass

95%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

2.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.14

Over 1.9 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

Middle half: 3k–8k

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.

These stats describe 1,301 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 1,301 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 16.2%

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

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

Tyre wear 15.7%

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

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

Exhaust & emissions 13.6%

Exhaust noisy

Suspension & steering 9.3%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy

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

Brake wear 5.8%

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

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

Other issues 4%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Nearside Rear Footrest missing · Offside Rear Footrest missing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,301 Triumph Trident cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Triumph Trident

Based on MOT data from 1,301 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 2.1% 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 (99%)	1,292	95%	0.14

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,392 Triumph Trident vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 41.2%

2,635

Silver 17.6%

1,122

Green 11.7%

748

Red 8.6%

550

Orange 6.2%

399

White 5.5%

354

Blue 3.2%

203

Maroon 2.9%

184

Purple 1.4%

Yellow 0.9%

Multi-colour 0.5%

Grey 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Triumph Trident 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.

4,772

typical

2,987

low mileage

7,619

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Triumph Trident vehicles fall between 2,987 and 7,619 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 2,987 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.

✓ 2,987–7,619 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Triumph Tridents sit.

⚠ Over 10,285 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.14

Avg failures per vehicle

0.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2022 2023 2024

Or browse all models: Triumph →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Triumph Trident stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?