BMW R60

599cc Petrol Class 2

#798 of 5426 overall #35 of 109 BMWs #489 of 2787 other bikes

90.5%

first-time pass rate

5.0%

failed outright

40,277

median miles at test

1,090

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The R60's first-time pass rate has risen 1.3 points since 2006, 90.1% to 91.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R60's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R60 passes first time 90.3% of the time; by 50k that's 93.8%.

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 R60

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	33	35.9	0.5×
steering and suspension	22	23.9	0.5×
brakes	15	16.3	0.3×
tyres and wheels	6	6.5	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	6	6.5	0.6×
driving controls	3	3.3	1.2×
reg plates and vin	3	3.3	0.5×
Items Not Tested	2	2.2	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	1	1.1	0.1×
tyres	1	1.1	0.1×

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 R60 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 SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 R60.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1959 (100.0% pass). Weakest: 1978 (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 R60 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R60 reliable?

The BMW R60 is more reliable than average for its class: 90.5% of its 1,090 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #798 of 5426 models.

What does a R60 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed R60 tests.

What is the best year of R60 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1959-registered examples do best (100.0%) and 1978 worst (82.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R60 last?

The median R60 shows 40,277 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 93.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.