Aprilia Mille vs BMW R1200

The BMW R1200 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Mille: 92.9% vs 84.2%, a 8.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Aprilia Mille	BMW R1200
First-time pass rate	84.2%	92.9%
Outright fail rate	8.5%	3.7%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-0.5 pts	+8.6 pts
Engine size	1,000cc	1,170cc
Rank among all models	#2690 of 5428	#315 of 5428
Median miles at test	15,800	20,069
MOT tests analysed	950	299,381
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	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 Mille	BMW R1200
Lights & signalling	4.1%	0.9%
Steering & suspension	2.7%	0.7%
Brakes	1.7%	1.5%
Tyres & wheels	1.7%	1.0%
Drive system	0.8%	0%
Structure & body	0.6%	0.1%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	0.0%

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 Mille	BMW R1200
2011	77.0%	90.5%
2012	86.0%	90.5%
2013	87.5%	91.1%
2014	84.2%	91.7%
2015	80.0%	92.4%
2016	81.5%	92.4%
2017	83.7%	92.8%
2022	97.1%	93.8%

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 Mille	BMW R1200
0k-10k miles	88.9%	94.8%
10k-20k miles	83.2%	93.7%
20k-30k miles	80.8%	92.8%
30k-40k miles	87.7%	91.9%

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

Aprilia Mille vs BMW R1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Mille or the BMW R1200?

The BMW R1200 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Mille: 92.9% vs 84.2%, a 8.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R1200 still comes out ahead: -0.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Mille, +8.6 for the BMW R1200. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Mille fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.1% of Aprilia Mille MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.7%).

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 Mille or the BMW R1200?

At 30k-40k miles the BMW R1200 passes first time more often: 87.7% for the Aprilia Mille vs 91.9% for the BMW R1200.

APRILIA MILLE 84.2% pass · 950 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.