Aprilia Etv Caponord vs BMW R1200

The BMW R1200 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Etv Caponord: 92.9% vs 85.1%, a 7.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Aprilia Etv Caponord	BMW R1200
First-time pass rate	85.1%	92.9%
Outright fail rate	10.5%	3.7%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+0.8 pts	+8.6 pts
Engine size	998cc	1,170cc
Rank among all models	#2469 of 5428	#315 of 5428
Median miles at test	18,043	20,069
MOT tests analysed	1,728	299,381
Most common failure	brakes	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Aprilia Etv Caponord	BMW R1200
Brakes	4.1%	1.5%
Steering & suspension	4.2%	0.7%
Lights & signalling	3.9%	0.9%
Tyres & wheels	1.4%	1.0%
Structure & body	0.7%	0.1%
Drive system	0.2%	0%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Aprilia Etv Caponord	BMW R1200
2018	81.2%	93.0%
2019	82.6%	93.6%
2020	88.1%	94.0%
2021	90.4%	93.9%
2022	83.1%	93.8%
2023	86.2%	94.1%
2024	83.0%	94.0%
2025	94.7%	94.2%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Aprilia Etv Caponord	BMW R1200
0k-10k miles	87.2%	94.8%
10k-20k miles	85.4%	93.7%
20k-30k miles	85.6%	92.8%
30k-40k miles	85.0%	91.9%
40k-50k miles	82.8%	90.8%
50k-60k miles	68.0%	89.5%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Aprilia Etv Caponord vs BMW R1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Etv Caponord or the BMW R1200?

The BMW R1200 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Etv Caponord: 92.9% vs 85.1%, a 7.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R1200 still comes out ahead: +0.8 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Etv Caponord, +8.6 for the BMW R1200. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Etv Caponord fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 4.2% of Aprilia Etv Caponord MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (4.1%).

What does the BMW R1200 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 1.5% of BMW R1200 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia Etv Caponord or the BMW R1200?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW R1200 passes first time more often: 68.0% for the Aprilia Etv Caponord vs 89.5% for the BMW R1200.

APRILIA ETV CAPONORD 85.1% pass · 1,728 tests BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.