BMW K100

987cc Petrol Class 2

#2658 of 5426 overall #95 of 109 BMWs #1672 of 2787 other bikes

84.3%

first-time pass rate

10.5%

failed outright

52,260

median miles at test

20.7k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The K100's first-time pass rate has risen 3.3 points since 2005, 85.6% to 88.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the K100's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage K100 passes first time 83.2% of the time; by 50k that's 84.9%.

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 K100

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	1,566	36.8	1.2×
lighting and signalling	985	23.1	0.8×
steering and suspension	737	17.3	0.9×
tyres and wheels	543	12.7	1.2×
driving controls	155	3.6	3.1×
body and structure	111	2.6	1.0×
reg plates and vin	62	1.5	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	58	1.4	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	25	0.6	—
Items Not Tested	19	0.4	0.9×

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 K100 beats 1 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 K100.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (90.8% pass). Weakest: 1984 (81.4%).

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 K100 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K100 reliable?

The BMW K100 is about average for its class: 84.3% of its 20,747 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2658 of 5426 models.

What does a K100 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 37% of all defects recorded against failed K100 tests.

What is the best year of K100 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (90.8%) and 1984 worst (81.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K100 last?

The median K100 shows 52,260 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.