BMW R75/6

746cc Petrol Class 2

#2331 of 5426 overall #84 of 109 BMWs #1460 of 2787 other bikes

85.6%

first-time pass rate

6.6%

failed outright

42,550

median miles at test

743

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The R75/6's first-time pass rate has risen 12.1 points since 2006, 84.0% to 96.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R75/6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R75/6 passes first time 86.7% of the time; by 50k that's 78.0%.

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 R75/6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	31	39.7	0.7×
steering and suspension	19	24.4	0.8×
brakes	12	15.4	0.3×
tyres and wheels	7	9	0.5×
driving controls	3	3.8	1.7×
sidecar	2	2.6	—
body and structure	2	2.6	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	1	1.3	0.2×
reg plates and vin	1	1.3	0.2×

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 R75/6 beats 3 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 TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 R75/6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1976 (87.0% pass). Weakest: 1975 (82.4%).

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 R75/6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R75/6 reliable?

The BMW R75/6 is about average for its class: 85.6% of its 743 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2331 of 5426 models.

What does a R75/6 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 40% of all defects recorded against failed R75/6 tests.

What is the best year of R75/6 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1976-registered examples do best (87.0%) and 1975 worst (82.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R75/6 last?

The median R75/6 shows 42,550 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.