Honda ST1300ABS vs BMW R1150

The Honda ST1300ABS passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 89.0% vs 88.5%, a 0.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda ST1300ABS	BMW R1150
First-time pass rate	89.0%	88.5%
Outright fail rate	7.0%	6.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.4 pts	+6.7 pts
Engine size	1,261cc	1,130cc
Rank among all models	#1269 of 5428	#1449 of 5428
Median miles at test	29,397	33,151
MOT tests analysed	18,765	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 ST1300ABS	BMW R1150
Brakes	3.2%	2.9%
Lights & signalling	1.6%	2.4%
Tyres & wheels	2.3%	1.7%
Steering & suspension	1.6%	1.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.2%	0.1%
Structure & body	0.1%	0.2%

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 ST1300ABS	BMW R1150
2013	87.7%	87.1%
2014	87.6%	87.5%
2015	87.4%	88.0%
2016	89.4%	87.6%
2017	87.0%	88.2%
2018	88.4%	88.1%
2019	87.0%	88.3%
2020	88.4%	88.0%

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 ST1300ABS	BMW R1150
0k-10k miles	94.9%	92.9%
10k-20k miles	92.7%	92.1%
20k-30k miles	90.4%	90.1%
30k-40k miles	87.4%	88.6%
40k-50k miles	86.8%	86.9%
50k-60k miles	84.3%	85.7%

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

Honda ST1300ABS vs BMW R1150 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda ST1300ABS or the BMW R1150?

The Honda ST1300ABS passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 89.0% vs 88.5%, a 0.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+6.4 vs +6.7 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda ST1300ABS fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.2% of Honda ST1300ABS MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (2.3%).

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 ST1300ABS or the BMW R1150?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW R1150 passes first time more often: 84.3% for the Honda ST1300ABS vs 85.7% for the BMW R1150.

HONDA ST1300ABS 89.0% pass · 18.8k 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.