BMW K1100RS

1092cc Petrol Class 2

#2866 of 5426 overall #99 of 109 BMWs #1809 of 2787 other bikes

83.4%

first-time pass rate

10.9%

failed outright

43,888

median miles at test

3,133

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The K1100RS's first-time pass rate has risen 1.1 points since 2005, 83.3% to 84.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the K1100RS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage K1100RS passes first time 89.6% of the time; by 50k that's 78.9%.

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 K1100RS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	261	39.1	1.3×
lighting and signalling	183	27.4	1.1×
steering and suspension	136	20.4	1.2×
tyres and wheels	64	9.6	0.9×
driving controls	7	1	1.0×
reg plates and vin	5	0.7	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	4	0.6	0.1×
body and structure	4	0.6	0.3×
Items Not Tested	2	0.3	0.7×
sidecar	2	0.3	16.0×

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 K1100RS 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 K1100RS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1993 (85.7% pass). Weakest: 1996 (81.5%).

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 K1100RS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K1100RS reliable?

The BMW K1100RS is about average for its class: 83.4% of its 3,133 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2866 of 5426 models.

What does a K1100RS fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 39% of all defects recorded against failed K1100RS tests.

What is the best year of K1100RS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1993-registered examples do best (85.7%) and 1996 worst (81.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K1100RS last?

The median K1100RS shows 43,888 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.