BMW R100S

980cc Petrol Class 2

#2639 of 5426 overall #93 of 109 BMWs #1659 of 2787 other bikes

84.4%

first-time pass rate

7.9%

failed outright

39,666

median miles at test

697

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The R100S's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.8 points since 2006, 89.9% to 77.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R100S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R100S passes first time 89.7% of the time; by 50k that's 81.2%.

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 R100S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	47	37.3	0.9×
brakes	31	24.6	0.8×
steering and suspension	22	17.5	0.7×
tyres and wheels	9	7.1	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	5	4	0.8×
body and structure	5	4	1.5×
reg plates and vin	4	3.2	1.0×
driving controls	3	2.4	1.8×

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 R100S beats 1 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 R100S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1981 (91.4% pass). Weakest: 1977 (80.7%).

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 R100S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R100S reliable?

The BMW R100S is about average for its class: 84.4% of its 697 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2639 of 5426 models.

What does a R100S fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed R100S tests.

What is the best year of R100S to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1981-registered examples do best (91.4%) and 1977 worst (80.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R100S last?

The median R100S shows 39,666 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.