BMW K 1200 R

1157cc Petrol Class 2

#1784 of 5426 overall #65 of 109 BMWs #1084 of 2787 other bikes

87.4%

first-time pass rate

6.7%

failed outright

15,441

median miles at test

1,465

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2017

The K 1200 R's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.5 points since 2008, 90.7% to 87.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the K 1200 R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage K 1200 R passes first time 90.0% of the time; by 40k that's 87.5%.

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 K 1200 R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	42	29.4	0.5×
tyres and wheels	31	21.7	1.0×
lighting and signalling	29	20.3	0.4×
steering and suspension	25	17.5	0.5×
reg plates and vin	9	6.3	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	3	2.1	0.3×
driving controls	2	1.4	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	1	0.7	—
body and structure	1	0.7	0.1×

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 K 1200 R beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 K 1200 R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (89.1% pass). Weakest: 2008 (85.7%).

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 K 1200 R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K 1200 R reliable?

The BMW K 1200 R is more reliable than average for its class: 87.4% of its 1,465 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1784 of 5426 models.

What does a K 1200 R fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed K 1200 R tests.

What is the best year of K 1200 R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (89.1%) and 2008 worst (85.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K 1200 R last?

The median K 1200 R shows 15,441 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 87.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.