BMW R SERIES

980cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #59 of 109 BMWs #915 of 2787 other bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

5.6%

failed outright

36,231

median miles at test

2,953

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2018–2025

The R SERIES's first-time pass rate has risen 2.8 points since 2018, 86.4% to 89.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage R SERIES passes first time 82.1% of the time; by 50k that's 92.1%.

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 SERIES

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	108	35.6	1.5×
brakes	56	18.5	0.3×
tyres	32	10.6	1.4×
suspension	29	9.6	1.1×
structure and attachments	26	8.6	1.1×
steering	22	7.3	1.5×
Identification of the vehicle	9	3	1.3×
lighting and signalling	9	3	0.1×
steering and suspension	7	2.3	0.1×
audible warning (Horn)	5	1.7	0.9×

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 R SERIES beats 2 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 R SERIES.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1984 (94.2% pass). Weakest: 1990 (80.8%).

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 R SERIES FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R SERIES reliable?

The BMW R SERIES is more reliable than average for its class: 88.3% of its 2,953 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1506 of 5426 models.

What does a R SERIES fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 36% of all defects recorded against failed R SERIES tests.

What is the best year of R SERIES to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1984-registered examples do best (94.2%) and 1990 worst (80.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R SERIES last?

The median R SERIES shows 36,231 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 92.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.