2018 Triumph Street 0.9L Petrol · LC18 SVV

The Triumph Street presents a mixed roadworthiness picture at its most recent MOT on 31 July 2025, recorded at exactly 5,010 miles. That test day produced both a failure and a pass within hours, and the initial failure is the more telling indicator. The tester flagged a stiff or notchy steering head bearing, a missing rear reflector, and a non-conforming registration plate alongside a rear tyre worn close to the legal limit. The subsequent pass suggests the cosmetic and tyre items were rectified quickly, but the steering head bearing advisory carried forward from the failure into the pass, meaning the bearing condition was noted but not severe enough to fail outright. The maintenance trend is essentially stable but with a minor unresolved steering wear point that a buyer should verify has been addressed since. The mileage pattern tells a story of very light use. From the first recorded test on 1 September 2021 at 2,656 miles through to 29 August 2023 at 4,327 miles, the bike covered roughly 1,671 miles in nearly two years. Between August 2023 and July 2025, it added only 683 miles over almost another two full years. At roughly 626 miles per year across its eight-year life, this is exceptionally low annual cover. The gap between the 2023 and 2025 tests is particularly notable, with barely any distance covered in that window. Prolonged standing can cause its own problems, dried seals, flat-spotted tyres, and corroded brake components, even when the odometer reads low. The recurring steering head bearing note is the most significant mechanical flag in this record. A notchy bearing at such low mileage suggests either a manufacturing defect, contamination from lack of use, or insufficient greasing rather than high-mileage wear. A buyer should inspect the bearing by holding the front wheel with the bike on its stand and checking for notchiness, play, or roughness through the full steering lock. The rear tyre appearing worn to near the legal limit at 5,010 miles is unusual and may indicate an older tyre that has perished from age rather than use, so check the date code on the sidewall carefully. The missing rear reflector and non-conforming plate from the failure test point to possible crash damage or careless repairs, so examine the rear light cluster and number plate mounting area for signs of impact or poor workmanship. Beyond the documented items, a buyer should pay close attention to the braking system, suspension seals, and fuel system given the extended periods of inactivity. Brake calipers can seize and discs can corrode when a machine stands idle, and fork stanchions may show pitting even at low mileage if the bike has been stored in damp conditions. The exhaust noise advisory from the 2022 test at 4,145 miles was not repeated in later tests, suggesting it was resolved, but a cold-start listen for exhaust blow or aftermarket modifications remains worthwhile. Overall, this is a low-mileage machine with a clean structural record, but the steering bearing and the implications of prolonged storage demand a thorough hands-on inspection before purchase.