BMW F850

853cc Petrol Class 2

#110 of 5426 overall #14 of 109 BMWs #70 of 2787 other bikes

94.6%

first-time pass rate

2.6%

failed outright

8,486

median miles at test

2,828

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The F850's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.1 points since 2021, 95.7% to 94.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the F850's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage F850 passes first time 95.9% of the time; by 30k that's 92.7%.

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 F850

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	29	25.4	0.2×
structure and attachments	29	25.4	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	15	13.2	0.3×
suspension	14	12.3	0.6×
tyres	11	9.6	0.5×
steering	7	6.1	0.5×
Identification of the vehicle	5	4.4	0.8×
wheels	4	3.5	2.4×

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 F850 beats 4 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 TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 F850.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2019 (95.2% pass). Weakest: 2018 (92.9%).

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 F850 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW F850 reliable?

The BMW F850 is more reliable than average for its class: 94.6% of its 2,828 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #110 of 5426 models.

What does a F850 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed F850 tests.

What is the best year of F850 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2019-registered examples do best (95.2%) and 2018 worst (92.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a F850 last?

The median F850 shows 8,486 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 92.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.