BMW F 700 GS vs Yamaha FZS600

The BMW F 700 GS passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 93.0% vs 82.6%, a 10.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW F 700 GS	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	93.0%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	2.6%	10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.6 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	798cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#298 of 5428	#3052 of 5428
Median miles at test	12,581	21,612
MOT tests analysed	5,034	136,558
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	BMW F 700 GS	Yamaha FZS600
Brakes	1.1%	4.5%
Lights & signalling	0.6%	3.4%
Steering & suspension	0.7%	2.7%
Tyres & wheels	0.4%	2.9%
Structure & body	0.3%	1.1%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	1.1%
Drive system	0.0%	0.9%

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	BMW F 700 GS	Yamaha FZS600
2018	95.3%	81.3%
2019	92.9%	83.0%
2020	92.0%	83.6%
2021	90.7%	82.8%
2022	92.9%	83.6%
2023	92.6%	84.2%
2024	94.7%	83.3%
2025	93.6%	84.0%

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	BMW F 700 GS	Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles	95.1%	89.6%
10k-20k miles	93.2%	85.5%
20k-30k miles	91.6%	81.4%
30k-40k miles	86.7%	78.7%
40k-50k miles	82.4%	76.8%
50k-60k miles	90.6%	74.7%

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

BMW F 700 GS vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW F 700 GS or the Yamaha FZS600?

The BMW F 700 GS passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 93.0% vs 82.6%, a 10.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW F 700 GS still comes out ahead: +6.6 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW F 700 GS, -0.8 for the Yamaha FZS600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW F 700 GS fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 1.1% of BMW F 700 GS MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (0.7%).

What does the Yamaha FZS600 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.5% of Yamaha FZS600 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.4%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW F 700 GS or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW F 700 GS passes first time more often: 90.6% for the BMW F 700 GS vs 74.7% for the Yamaha FZS600.

BMW F 700 GS 93.0% pass · 5,034 tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests

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