BMW R80/7

800cc Petrol Class 2

#2362 of 5426 overall #85 of 109 BMWs #1477 of 2787 other bikes

85.5%

first-time pass rate

7.1%

failed outright

40,470

median miles at test

1,446

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The R80/7's first-time pass rate has risen 1.8 points since 2006, 85.1% to 86.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R80/7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R80/7 passes first time 78.0% of the time; by 50k that's 85.9%.

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 R80/7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	59	28.6	0.6×
brakes	47	22.8	0.6×
steering and suspension	43	20.9	0.8×
tyres and wheels	21	10.2	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	12	5.8	1.1×
reg plates and vin	10	4.9	0.8×
body and structure	7	3.4	0.9×
driving controls	5	2.4	1.5×
sidecar	2	1	17.3×

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 R80/7 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 R80/7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1980 (86.5% pass). Weakest: 1979 (84.1%).

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 R80/7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R80/7 reliable?

The BMW R80/7 is about average for its class: 85.5% of its 1,446 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2362 of 5426 models.

What does a R80/7 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed R80/7 tests.

What is the best year of R80/7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1980-registered examples do best (86.5%) and 1979 worst (84.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R80/7 last?

The median R80/7 shows 40,470 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.