Benelli Tornado 900 vs BMW R1150

The BMW R1150 passes its MOT first time more often than the Benelli Tornado 900: 88.5% vs 87.2%, a 1.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Benelli Tornado 900	BMW R1150
First-time pass rate	87.2%	88.5%
Outright fail rate	6.0%	6.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-1.2 pts	+6.7 pts
Engine size	899cc	1,130cc
Rank among all models	#1855 of 5428	#1449 of 5428
Median miles at test	5,908	33,151
MOT tests analysed	811	170,963
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	Benelli Tornado 900	BMW R1150
Lights & signalling	2.8%	2.4%
Brakes	1.2%	2.9%
Steering & suspension	1.5%	1.4%
Tyres & wheels	1.0%	1.7%
Drive system	0.4%	0.0%
Structure & body	0%	0.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.1%

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	Benelli Tornado 900	BMW R1150
2010	82.6%	88.3%
2011	86.3%	87.3%
2012	89.5%	87.6%
2013	87.7%	87.1%
2014	90.4%	87.5%
2015	89.6%	88.0%
2016	84.3%	87.6%
2017	84.1%	88.2%

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	Benelli Tornado 900	BMW R1150
0k-10k miles	87.4%	92.9%
10k-20k miles	87.2%	92.1%

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

Benelli Tornado 900 vs BMW R1150 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Benelli Tornado 900 or the BMW R1150?

The BMW R1150 passes its MOT first time more often than the Benelli Tornado 900: 88.5% vs 87.2%, a 1.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R1150 still comes out ahead: -1.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Benelli Tornado 900, +6.7 for the BMW R1150. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Benelli Tornado 900 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.8% of Benelli Tornado 900 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.5%).

What does the BMW R1150 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.9% of BMW R1150 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.4%).

BENELLI TORNADO 900 87.2% pass · 811 tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests

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