BMW R1150 GS

1150cc Petrol Class 2

#1986 of 5426 overall #73 of 109 BMWs #1204 of 2787 other bikes

86.7%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

34,106

median miles at test

1,078

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The R1150 GS's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.3 points since 2006, 93.5% to 82.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R1150 GS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R1150 GS passes first time 95.7% of the time; by 50k that's 83.2%.

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 R1150 GS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	44	38.3	0.8×
lighting and signalling	26	22.6	0.4×
steering and suspension	17	14.8	0.5×
tyres and wheels	13	11.3	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	6	5.2	0.2×
reg plates and vin	4	3.5	0.6×
suspension	2	1.7	0.3×
wheels	1	0.9	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	1	0.9	0.1×
Items Not Tested	1	0.9	1.0×

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 R1150 GS 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 R1150 GS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (91.2% pass). Weakest: 2002 (82.8%).

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 R1150 GS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R1150 GS reliable?

The BMW R1150 GS is about average for its class: 86.7% of its 1,078 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1986 of 5426 models.

What does a R1150 GS fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 38% of all defects recorded against failed R1150 GS tests.

What is the best year of R1150 GS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (91.2%) and 2002 worst (82.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R1150 GS last?

The median R1150 GS shows 34,106 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.