BMW R80RT

798cc Petrol Class 2

#2515 of 5426 overall #91 of 109 BMWs #1579 of 2787 other bikes

84.9%

first-time pass rate

8.3%

failed outright

44,445

median miles at test

1,087

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2017

The R80RT's first-time pass rate has fallen 14.1 points since 2005, 93.8% to 79.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R80RT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R80RT passes first time 82.4% of the time; by 50k that's 83.8%.

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 R80RT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	55	34.4	0.8×
brakes	43	26.9	0.7×
steering and suspension	25	15.6	0.6×
tyres and wheels	13	8.1	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	7	4.4	0.8×
sidecar	5	3.1	—
body and structure	4	2.5	0.8×
driving controls	4	2.5	1.6×
reg plates and vin	3	1.9	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	1	0.6	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 R80RT 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 R80RT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1984 (90.1% pass). Weakest: 1986 (76.5%).

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.

BMW R80RT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R80RT reliable?

The BMW R80RT is about average for its class: 84.9% of its 1,087 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2515 of 5426 models.

What does a R80RT fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed R80RT tests.

What is the best year of R80RT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1984-registered examples do best (90.1%) and 1986 worst (76.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R80RT last?

The median R80RT shows 44,445 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.