BMW K1200

1171cc Petrol Class 2

#1111 of 5426 overall #45 of 109 BMWs #678 of 2787 other bikes

89.5%

first-time pass rate

6.1%

failed outright

22,493

median miles at test

34.7k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The K1200's first-time pass rate has risen 4.2 points since 2005, 93.1% to 97.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the K1200's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage K1200 passes first time 92.5% of the time; by 50k that's 85.7%.

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 K1200

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	1,179	35.6	0.6×
tyres and wheels	729	22	0.9×
lighting and signalling	587	17.7	0.3×
steering and suspension	531	16	0.4×
reg plates and vin	124	3.7	0.4×
body and structure	46	1.4	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	42	1.3	0.2×
driving controls	41	1.2	0.5×
Items Not Tested	24	0.7	0.6×
suspension	8	0.2	—

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 K1200 beats 3 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 K1200.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (91.8% pass). Weakest: 1998 (85.4%).

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 K1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K1200 reliable?

The BMW K1200 is more reliable than average for its class: 89.5% of its 34,725 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1111 of 5426 models.

What does a K1200 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 36% of all defects recorded against failed K1200 tests.

What is the best year of K1200 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (91.8%) and 1998 worst (85.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K1200 last?

The median K1200 shows 22,493 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.