BMW K1100LT

1092cc Petrol Class 2

#3146 of 5426 overall #102 of 109 BMWs #2001 of 2787 other bikes

82.2%

first-time pass rate

13.5%

failed outright

57,693

median miles at test

2,353

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2017

The K1100LT's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.1 points since 2005, 83.6% to 80.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the K1100LT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage K1100LT passes first time 86.4% of the time; by 50k that's 81.4%.

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 K1100LT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	236	35.8	1.6×
lighting and signalling	175	26.5	1.3×
steering and suspension	138	20.9	1.5×
tyres and wheels	58	8.8	1.2×
body and structure	24	3.6	1.9×
driving controls	18	2.7	3.1×
fuel and exhaust	6	0.9	0.3×
Items Not Tested	2	0.3	0.9×
reg plates and vin	2	0.3	0.1×
sidecar	1	0.2	10.6×

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 K1100LT beats 0 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 K1100LT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (86.4% pass). Weakest: 1994 (78.3%).

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 K1100LT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K1100LT reliable?

The BMW K1100LT is less reliable than average for its class: 82.2% of its 2,353 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3146 of 5426 models.

What does a K1100LT fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 36% of all defects recorded against failed K1100LT tests.

What is the best year of K1100LT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (86.4%) and 1994 worst (78.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K1100LT last?

The median K1100LT shows 57,693 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.