Brough Superior SS80 vs BMW R1150

The Brough Superior SS80 passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 96.1% vs 88.5%, a 7.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Brough Superior SS80	BMW R1150
First-time pass rate	96.1%	88.5%
Outright fail rate	1.4%	6.8%
Engine size	990cc	1,130cc
Rank among all models	#22 of 5428	#1449 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,974	33,151
MOT tests analysed	282	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.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Brough Superior SS80	BMW R1150
2007	91.7%	90.6%
2008	100.0%	89.3%
2009	97.5%	87.4%
2010	94.1%	88.3%
2011	97.6%	87.3%
2012	93.3%	87.6%

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	Brough Superior SS80	BMW R1150
0k-10k miles	96.9%	92.9%
30k-40k miles	96.8%	88.6%

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

BROUGH SUPERIOR SS80 96.1% pass · 282 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.