BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BMW/K SERIES
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

BMW K SERIES

1171cc Petrol Class 2
#960 of 5428 overall #40 of 109 BMWs #589 of 2788 other bikes
90.0%
first-time pass rate
6.6%
failed outright
31,603
median miles at test
38.7k
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+8.1pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2018–2025

The K SERIES's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2018 (90.0% → 89.8%).

89%90%92%2018: 90.0% pass (5,634 tests)2019: 89.5% pass (5,417 tests)2020: 89.5% pass (4,577 tests)2021: 90.3% pass (5,653 tests)2022: 89.9% pass (5,297 tests)2023: 90.3% pass (4,965 tests)2024: 90.5% pass (3,539 tests)2025: 89.8% pass (3,657 tests)20182025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage K SERIES passes first time 91.4% of the time; by 50k that's 86.9%.

86%90%94%0k: 91.4% pass (2,399 tests)10k: 93.1% pass (6,369 tests)20k: 91.3% pass (9,097 tests)30k: 90.5% pass (7,801 tests)40k: 87.7% pass (5,095 tests)50k: 86.9% pass (3,163 tests)0k30k50k

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 SERIES

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
1,405 33 0.6×
lamps and reflectors
985 23.1 1.2×
suspension
622 14.6 1.9×
tyres
569 13.4 2.0×
structure and attachments
216 5.1 0.8×
steering
160 3.8 0.9×
audible warning (Horn)
86 2 1.2×
Identification of the vehicle
84 2 0.9×
lighting and signalling
69 1.6 n/a
steering and suspension
65 1.5 n/a

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 SERIES beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 SERIES.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the K Series

More BMW models

other BMW bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests
BMW S1000 90.8% pass · 64.2k tests
BMW F800 90.4% pass · 60.0k tests
BMW K1200 89.5% pass · 34.7k tests
BMW R1250 95.8% pass · 33.6k tests

See all BMW models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2014 (94.5%). Lowest: 1983 (83.1%). Every K Series year compared →

81%89%97%1983: 83.1% pass (59 tests)1984: 84.6% pass (521 tests)1985: 84.0% pass (600 tests)1986: 87.8% pass (609 tests)1987: 86.9% pass (527 tests)1988: 87.9% pass (593 tests)1989: 84.6% pass (531 tests)1990: 88.3% pass (682 tests)1991: 85.5% pass (344 tests)1992: 85.6% pass (485 tests)1993: 83.6% pass (608 tests)1994: 83.7% pass (504 tests)1995: 88.8% pass (421 tests)1996: 84.5% pass (329 tests)1997: 84.0% pass (729 tests)1998: 85.0% pass (698 tests)1999: 86.5% pass (814 tests)2000: 85.5% pass (683 tests)2001: 88.0% pass (914 tests)2002: 87.3% pass (825 tests)2003: 87.2% pass (884 tests)2004: 88.4% pass (1,119 tests)2005: 90.5% pass (2,681 tests)2006: 90.0% pass (2,687 tests)2007: 90.7% pass (2,146 tests)2008: 91.2% pass (1,890 tests)2009: 92.1% pass (3,567 tests)2010: 91.8% pass (3,148 tests)2011: 93.5% pass (3,743 tests)2012: 93.5% pass (2,910 tests)2013: 93.3% pass (2,316 tests)2014: 94.5% pass (73 tests)198319992014

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 SERIES FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K SERIES reliable?

The BMW K SERIES is more reliable than average for its class: 90.0% of its 38,742 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #960 of 5428 models.

What does a K SERIES fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 33% of all defects recorded against failed K SERIES tests.

What is the best year of K SERIES to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2014-registered examples do best (94.5%) and 1983 worst (83.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K SERIES last?

The median K SERIES shows 31,603 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 86.9% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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