Honda Goldwing vs BMW K1600

The BMW K1600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda Goldwing: 95.3% vs 85.9%, a 9.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda Goldwing	BMW K1600
First-time pass rate	85.9%	95.3%
Outright fail rate	9.9%	3.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+4.3 pts	+8.9 pts
Engine size	1,500cc	1,649cc
Rank among all models	#2232 of 5428	#54 of 5428
Median miles at test	44,401	13,935
MOT tests analysed	6,015	12,051
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 Goldwing	BMW K1600
Brakes	4.7%	0.8%
Steering & suspension	2.6%	1.1%
Lights & signalling	3.1%	0.4%
Tyres & wheels	2.3%	1.1%
Structure & body	0.6%	0.0%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	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 Goldwing	BMW K1600
2018	87.4%	94.9%
2019	88.5%	96.0%
2020	91.1%	96.7%
2021	89.8%	96.2%
2022	88.1%	95.2%
2023	91.3%	95.9%
2024	92.9%	95.8%
2025	82.5%	95.9%

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 Goldwing	BMW K1600
0k-10k miles	88.7%	96.6%
10k-20k miles	91.4%	95.5%
20k-30k miles	87.9%	93.8%
30k-40k miles	87.6%	91.9%
40k-50k miles	85.9%	93.2%
50k-60k miles	83.2%	97.5%

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

Honda Goldwing vs BMW K1600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda Goldwing or the BMW K1600?

The BMW K1600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda Goldwing: 95.3% vs 85.9%, a 9.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW K1600 still comes out ahead: +4.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda Goldwing, +8.9 for the BMW K1600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda Goldwing fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.7% of Honda Goldwing MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.1%).

What does the BMW K1600 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 1.1% of BMW K1600 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.1%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda Goldwing or the BMW K1600?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW K1600 passes first time more often: 83.2% for the Honda Goldwing vs 97.5% for the BMW K1600.

HONDA GOLDWING 85.9% pass · 6,015 tests BMW K1600 95.3% pass · 12.1k tests

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