BMW K1600 vs Honda Goldwing

The BMW K1600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda Goldwing: 95.3% vs 85.9%, a 9.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW K1600	Honda Goldwing
First-time pass rate	95.3%	85.9%
Outright fail rate	3.1%	9.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+8.9 pts	+4.3 pts
Engine size	1,649cc	1,500cc
Rank among all models	#54 of 5428	#2232 of 5428
Median miles at test	13,935	44,401
MOT tests analysed	12,051	6,015
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 K1600	Honda Goldwing
Brakes	0.8%	4.7%
Steering & suspension	1.1%	2.6%
Lights & signalling	0.4%	3.1%
Tyres & wheels	1.1%	2.3%
Structure & body	0.0%	0.6%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.5%

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 K1600	Honda Goldwing
2018	94.9%	87.4%
2019	96.0%	88.5%
2020	96.7%	91.1%
2021	96.2%	89.8%
2022	95.2%	88.1%
2023	95.9%	91.3%
2024	95.8%	92.9%
2025	95.9%	82.5%

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 K1600	Honda Goldwing
0k-10k miles	96.6%	88.7%
10k-20k miles	95.5%	91.4%
20k-30k miles	93.8%	87.9%
30k-40k miles	91.9%	87.6%
40k-50k miles	93.2%	85.9%
50k-60k miles	97.5%	83.2%

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

BMW K1600 vs Honda Goldwing FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW K1600 or the Honda Goldwing?

The BMW K1600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda Goldwing: 95.3% vs 85.9%, a 9.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW K1600 still comes out ahead: +8.9 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW K1600, +4.3 for the Honda Goldwing. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW K1600 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 1.1% of BMW K1600 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.1%).

What does the Honda Goldwing fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.7% of Honda Goldwing MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.1%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW K1600 or the Honda Goldwing?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW K1600 passes first time more often: 97.5% for the BMW K1600 vs 83.2% for the Honda Goldwing.

BMW K1600 95.3% pass · 12.1k tests HONDA GOLDWING 85.9% pass · 6,015 tests

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