BMW K1600

1649cc Petrol Class 2

#55 of 5426 overall #11 of 109 BMWs #1 of 14 tourer bikes

BMW K1600 — Photo: AVMOTO · CC BY-SA 4.0

95.3%

first-time pass rate

3.1%

failed outright

13,935

median miles at test

12.1k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2025

The K1600's first-time pass rate has risen 2.1 points since 2014, 93.8% to 95.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the K1600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage K1600 passes first time 96.6% of the time; by 50k that's 97.5%.

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 K1600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	124	25.1	0.2×
tyres	90	18.2	1.0×
suspension	87	17.6	0.9×
steering and suspension	68	13.7	0.2×
tyres and wheels	64	12.9	0.2×
lighting and signalling	30	6.1	0.1×
lamps and reflectors	21	4.2	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	4	0.8	0.1×
steering	4	0.8	0.1×
reg plates and vin	3	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 K1600 beats 2 of its 2 closest rivals (TRIUMPH TROPHY, HONDA GOLDWING).

TRIUMPH TROPHY 84.0% pass · 39.2k tests HONDA GOLDWING 85.9% pass · 6,015 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 K1600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2022 (97.8% pass). Weakest: 2012 (93.8%).

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 K1600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW K1600 reliable?

The BMW K1600 is more reliable than average for its class: 95.3% of its 12,051 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #55 of 5426 models.

What does a K1600 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed K1600 tests.

What is the best year of K1600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2022-registered examples do best (97.8%) and 2012 worst (93.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a K1600 last?

The median K1600 shows 13,935 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 97.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.