BMW S1000

999cc Petrol Class 2

#726 of 5426 overall #33 of 109 BMWs #444 of 2787 other bikes

BMW S1000 — Photo: Stefan Krause, Germany · CC BY-SA 3.0

90.8%

first-time pass rate

4.1%

failed outright

10,125

median miles at test

64.2k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The S1000's first-time pass rate has risen 10.1 points since 2013, 82.5% to 92.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the S1000's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage S1000 passes first time 92.5% of the time; by 50k that's 82.3%.

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 S1000

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	1,406	32.2	1.0×
brakes	648	14.8	0.2×
structure and attachments	487	11.1	0.9×
tyres	394	9	0.8×
Identification of the vehicle	371	8.5	2.5×
lighting and signalling	360	8.2	0.1×
suspension	338	7.7	0.7×
reg plates and vin	131	3	0.3×
tyres and wheels	127	2.9	0.1×
audible warning (Horn)	109	2.5	0.9×

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 S1000 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 S1000.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2021 (95.2% pass). Weakest: 2010 (86.2%).

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 S1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BMW S1000 reliable?

The BMW S1000 is more reliable than average for its class: 90.8% of its 64,233 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #726 of 5426 models.

What does a S1000 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 32% of all defects recorded against failed S1000 tests.

What is the best year of S1000 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2021-registered examples do best (95.2%) and 2010 worst (86.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a S1000 last?

The median S1000 shows 10,125 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.