BMW G 650 GS

652cc Petrol Class 2

#1541 of 5426 overall #61 of 109 BMWs #936 of 2787 other bikes

88.2%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

8,176

median miles at test

2,236

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2018

The G 650 GS's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.5 points since 2014, 89.3% to 81.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage G 650 GS passes first time 90.5% of the time; by 30k that's 75.4%.

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 G 650 GS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	70	29.2	0.6×
lighting and signalling	48	20	0.5×
drive system	39	16.2	1.2×
steering and suspension	32	13.3	0.4×
tyres and wheels	23	9.6	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	12	5	0.2×
suspension	5	2.1	0.3×
body and structure	4	1.7	0.3×
structure and attachments	4	1.7	0.2×
reg plates and vin	3	1.2	0.2×

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 G 650 GS 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 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 G 650 GS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2013 (91.2% pass). Weakest: 2011 (87.2%).

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 G 650 GS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW G 650 GS reliable?

The BMW G 650 GS is more reliable than average for its class: 88.2% of its 2,236 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1541 of 5426 models.

What does a G 650 GS fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed G 650 GS tests.

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

By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (91.2%) and 2011 worst (87.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a G 650 GS last?

The median G 650 GS shows 8,176 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 75.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.