BMW R69S

600cc Petrol Class 2

#704 of 5426 overall #32 of 109 BMWs #429 of 2787 other bikes

90.9%

first-time pass rate

3.3%

failed outright

33,179

median miles at test

394

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The R69S's first-time pass rate has risen 3.5 points since 2006, 93.3% to 96.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R69S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R69S passes first time 89.7% 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 R69S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	5	19.2
lighting and signalling	5	19.2
steering and suspension	4	15.4
tyres and wheels	4	15.4
fuel and exhaust	2	7.7
structure and attachments	2	7.7
body and structure	2	7.7
lamps and reflectors	1	3.8
audible warning (Horn)	1	3.8

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the R69S 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 R69S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1963 (92.2% pass). Weakest: 1961 (85.5%).

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.