BMW R 18

1802cc Petrol Class 2

#32 of 5426 overall #4 of 109 BMWs #19 of 2787 other bikes

95.8%

first-time pass rate

0.9%

failed outright

2,908

median miles at test

456

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2023–2025

The R 18's first-time pass rate has risen 4.0 points since 2023, 92.2% to 96.2%.

What fails on a R 18

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
Identification of the vehicle	3	60
tyres	1	20
wheels	1	20

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the R 18 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R, YAMAHA FJR1300A).

SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests YAMAHA FJR1300A 90.2% pass · 27.9k tests YAMAHA FJR1300 87.5% pass · 25.9k 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 R 18.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2022 (96.3% pass). Weakest: 2020 (95.6%).

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.