Honda CTX vs BMW R1150

The Honda CTX passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 95.8% vs 88.5%, a 7.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda CTX	BMW R1150
First-time pass rate	95.8%	88.5%
Outright fail rate	2.5%	6.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+8.9 pts	+6.7 pts
Engine size	1,261cc	1,130cc
Rank among all models	#32 of 5428	#1449 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,304	33,151
MOT tests analysed	590	170,963
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	Honda CTX	BMW R1150
Brakes	1.0%	2.9%
Tyres & wheels	1.2%	1.7%
Lights & signalling	0.2%	2.4%
Steering & suspension	0.2%	1.4%
Structure & body	0%	0.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.1%

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	Honda CTX	BMW R1150
2018	96.7%	88.1%
2019	98.4%	88.3%
2020	97.3%	88.0%
2021	97.6%	87.9%
2022	97.3%	88.6%
2023	90.8%	89.1%
2024	91.7%	88.1%
2025	97.0%	89.1%

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	Honda CTX	BMW R1150
0k-10k miles	97.5%	92.9%
10k-20k miles	94.9%	92.1%
20k-30k miles	91.5%	90.1%

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

Honda CTX vs BMW R1150 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda CTX or the BMW R1150?

The Honda CTX passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 95.8% vs 88.5%, a 7.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CTX still comes out ahead: +8.9 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda CTX, +6.7 for the BMW R1150. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda CTX fail its MOT on most?

Tyres & wheels: 1.2% of Honda CTX MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.0%).

What does the BMW R1150 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.9% of BMW R1150 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.4%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda CTX or the BMW R1150?

At 20k-30k miles the Honda CTX passes first time more often: 91.5% for the Honda CTX vs 90.1% for the BMW R1150.

HONDA CTX 95.8% pass · 590 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.