BMW F650

650cc Petrol Class 2

#3770 of 5426 overall #108 of 109 BMWs #2396 of 2787 other bikes

79.0%

first-time pass rate

14.1%

failed outright

25,925

median miles at test

19.3k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The F650's first-time pass rate has risen 3.6 points since 2005, 79.5% to 83.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the F650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage F650 passes first time 86.1% of the time; by 50k that's 73.5%.

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 F650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	1,360	24.4	1.7×
lighting and signalling	1,350	24.2	1.3×
brakes	1,182	21.2	1.1×
drive system	409	7.3	2.1×
tyres and wheels	392	7	0.9×
lamps and reflectors	360	6.5	0.9×
suspension	197	3.5	1.1×
structure and attachments	144	2.6	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	94	1.7	0.6×
steering	88	1.6	1.0×

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 F650 beats 2 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 F650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (95.9% pass). Weakest: 2003 (74.4%).

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 F650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW F650 reliable?

The BMW F650 is less reliable than average for its class: 79.0% of its 19,346 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3770 of 5426 models.

What does a F650 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 24% of all defects recorded against failed F650 tests.

What is the best year of F650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (95.9%) and 2003 worst (74.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a F650 last?

The median F650 shows 25,925 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.