BMW R1150 vs KAWASAKI ZX-9R

The BMW R1150 passes its MOT first time more often than the KAWASAKI ZX-9R — 88.5% vs 80.7%, a 7.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW R1150	KAWASAKI ZX-9R
First-time pass rate	88.5%	80.7%
Outright fail rate	6.8%	12.0%
Median miles at test	33,151	22,320
MOT tests analysed	170,963	88,973
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.

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests

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