Brough Superior SS80 vs BMW R1200

The Brough Superior SS80 passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1200: 96.1% vs 92.9%, a 3.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Brough Superior SS80	BMW R1200
First-time pass rate	96.1%	92.9%
Outright fail rate	1.4%	3.7%
Engine size	990cc	1,170cc
Rank among all models	#22 of 5428	#315 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,974	20,069
MOT tests analysed	282	299,381
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 R1200
2007	91.7%	92.2%
2008	100.0%	90.8%
2009	97.5%	90.0%
2010	94.1%	89.8%
2011	97.6%	90.5%
2012	93.3%	90.5%

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	Brough Superior SS80	BMW R1200
0k-10k miles	96.9%	94.8%
30k-40k miles	96.8%	91.9%

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

BROUGH SUPERIOR SS80 96.1% pass · 282 tests BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests

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