BMW R 850 R

850cc Petrol Class 2

#2089 of 5426 overall #77 of 109 BMWs #1277 of 2787 other bikes

86.4%

first-time pass rate

6.9%

failed outright

31,175

median miles at test

435

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The R 850 R's first-time pass rate has risen 3.8 points since 2006, 83.3% to 87.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R 850 R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R 850 R passes first time 93.2% of the time; by 50k that's 83.3%.

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 R 850 R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	13	28.9
brakes	11	24.4
steering and suspension	10	22.2
tyres and wheels	6	13.3
tyres	3	6.7
reg plates and vin	2	4.4

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 850 R beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 850 R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (90.5% pass). Weakest: 1995 (85.5%).

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.