BMW R90S

898cc Petrol Class 2

#959 of 5426 overall #40 of 109 BMWs #589 of 2787 other bikes

90.0%

first-time pass rate

4.3%

failed outright

38,296

median miles at test

1,503

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The R90S's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.4 points since 2006, 94.4% to 88.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R90S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R90S passes first time 87.6% of the time; by 50k that's 86.9%.

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 R90S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	34	29.1	0.4×
steering and suspension	28	23.9	0.5×
brakes	25	21.4	0.3×
tyres and wheels	8	6.8	0.3×
reg plates and vin	5	4.3	0.2×
lamps and reflectors	5	4.3	0.1×
driving controls	4	3.4	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	3	2.6	0.3×
body and structure	3	2.6	0.4×
suspension	2	1.7	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 R90S beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 R90S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1977 (96.4% pass). Weakest: 1974 (85.8%).

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 R90S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW R90S reliable?

The BMW R90S is more reliable than average for its class: 90.0% of its 1,503 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #959 of 5426 models.

What does a R90S fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed R90S tests.

What is the best year of R90S to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1977-registered examples do best (96.4%) and 1974 worst (85.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R90S last?

The median R90S shows 38,296 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 86.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.