BMW R45

473cc Petrol Class 2

#2384 of 5426 overall #86 of 109 BMWs #1491 of 2787 other bikes

85.4%

first-time pass rate

8.1%

failed outright

36,545

median miles at test

2,033

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2022

The R45's first-time pass rate has risen 9.9 points since 2005, 80.4% to 90.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R45's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R45 passes first time 87.7% of the time; by 50k that's 85.5%.

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 R45

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	106	30.5	0.7×
brakes	85	24.4	0.7×
steering and suspension	72	20.7	0.9×
tyres and wheels	25	7.2	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	19	5.5	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	14	4	0.8×
driving controls	12	3.4	2.5×
structure and attachments	5	1.4	0.4×
reg plates and vin	5	1.4	0.4×
sidecar	5	1.4	49.2×

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 R45 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 YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k 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 R45.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (87.0% pass). Weakest: 1984 (81.6%).

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 R45 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R45 reliable?

The BMW R45 is about average for its class: 85.4% of its 2,033 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2384 of 5426 models.

What does a R45 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 30% of all defects recorded against failed R45 tests.

What is the best year of R45 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1979-registered examples do best (87.0%) and 1984 worst (81.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R45 last?

The median R45 shows 36,545 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.