BMW K1200 RS

1171cc Petrol Class 2

#1212 of 5426 overall #48 of 109 BMWs #743 of 2787 other bikes

89.2%

first-time pass rate

6.9%

failed outright

25,068

median miles at test

770

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The K1200 RS's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.2 points since 2006, 93.6% to 88.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage K1200 RS passes first time 89.8% of the time; by 50k that's 84.3%.

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 RS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	38	38	0.8×
steering and suspension	19	19	0.7×
tyres and wheels	17	17	0.9×
lighting and signalling	17	17	0.5×
reg plates and vin	5	5	0.9×
body and structure	2	2	0.5×
Items Not Tested	1	1	1.4×
driving controls	1	1	0.6×

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 K1200 RS 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 RS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (92.0% pass). Weakest: 1997 (86.1%).

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 RS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K1200 RS reliable?

The BMW K1200 RS is more reliable than average for its class: 89.2% of its 770 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1212 of 5426 models.

What does a K1200 RS fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 38% of all defects recorded against failed K1200 RS tests.

What is the best year of K1200 RS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (92.0%) and 1997 worst (86.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K1200 RS last?

The median K1200 RS shows 25,068 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.