BMW F 650 GS 04

652cc Petrol Class 2

#2611 of 5426 overall #92 of 109 BMWs #1643 of 2787 other bikes

84.5%

first-time pass rate

10.1%

failed outright

12,257

median miles at test

534

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2007–2017

The F 650 GS 04's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.4 points since 2007, 81.3% to 73.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the F 650 GS 04's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage F 650 GS 04 passes first time 91.9% of the time; by 30k that's 84.1%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a F 650 GS 04

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	31	31.3	0.9×
steering and suspension	25	25.3	1.5×
brakes	17	17.2	0.6×
drive system	17	17.2	3.4×
tyres and wheels	8	8.1	0.7×
Items Not Tested	1	1	2.0×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the F 650 GS 04 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the F 650 GS 04.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2006 (85.9% pass). Weakest: 2007 (80.6%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

BMW F 650 GS 04 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW F 650 GS 04 reliable?

The BMW F 650 GS 04 is about average for its class: 84.5% of its 534 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2611 of 5426 models.

What does a F 650 GS 04 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed F 650 GS 04 tests.

What is the best year of F 650 GS 04 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (85.9%) and 2007 worst (80.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a F 650 GS 04 last?

The median F 650 GS 04 shows 12,257 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 84.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.