BMW R 850 R MU

848cc Petrol Class 2

#2411 of 5426 overall #88 of 109 BMWs #1507 of 2787 other bikes

85.3%

first-time pass rate

7.3%

failed outright

18,592

median miles at test

232

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage R 850 R MU passes first time 97.2% of the time; by 20k that's 73.3%.

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 MU

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	10	33.3
brakes	7	23.3
steering and suspension	4	13.3
lamps and reflectors	4	13.3
tyres	2	6.7
tyres and wheels	1	3.3
structure and attachments	1	3.3
suspension	1	3.3

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 MU beats 3 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 MU.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (86.3% pass). Weakest: 2004 (85.3%).

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.