Honda GL1500 vs BMW R1200

The BMW R1200 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda GL1500: 92.9% vs 86.5%, a 6.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda GL1500	BMW R1200
First-time pass rate	86.5%	92.9%
Outright fail rate	10.0%	3.7%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+5.6 pts	+8.6 pts
Engine size	1,520cc	1,170cc
Rank among all models	#2052 of 5428	#315 of 5428
Median miles at test	52,598	20,069
MOT tests analysed	9,175	299,381
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 GL1500	BMW R1200
Brakes	5.2%	1.5%
Lights & signalling	2.7%	0.9%
Tyres & wheels	2.6%	1.0%
Steering & suspension	2.3%	0.7%
Structure & body	0.3%	0.1%
Fuel & exhaust	0.3%	0.0%

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 GL1500	BMW R1200
2018	88.5%	93.0%
2019	88.5%	93.6%
2020	88.9%	94.0%
2021	89.3%	93.9%
2022	89.3%	93.8%
2023	87.5%	94.1%
2024	88.5%	94.0%
2025	90.8%	94.2%

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 GL1500	BMW R1200
0k-10k miles	85.1%	94.8%
10k-20k miles	87.6%	93.7%
20k-30k miles	87.1%	92.8%
30k-40k miles	88.9%	91.9%
40k-50k miles	88.1%	90.8%
50k-60k miles	85.3%	89.5%

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

Honda GL1500 vs BMW R1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda GL1500 or the BMW R1200?

The BMW R1200 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda GL1500: 92.9% vs 86.5%, a 6.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R1200 still comes out ahead: +5.6 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda GL1500, +8.6 for the BMW R1200. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda GL1500 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 5.2% of Honda GL1500 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.7%).

What does the BMW R1200 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 1.5% of BMW R1200 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda GL1500 or the BMW R1200?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW R1200 passes first time more often: 85.3% for the Honda GL1500 vs 89.5% for the BMW R1200.

HONDA GL1500 86.5% pass · 9,175 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.