BMW R1200gs MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,163 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 8.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
BMW R1200gs MOT Reliability Overview
The BMW R1200gs is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,163 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 12 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.1% and a failure rate of 8.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the BMW R1200gs earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average BMW R1200gs presents for MOT with approximately 23,494 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2016 models achieve the highest pass rate at 97.0%, while 2010 models have the lowest at 88.1%. This 8.9 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the BMW R1200gs is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 4.7% of all tests. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Motorcycle brakes at 3.4%. Motorcycle tyres and wheels rounds out the top three at 2.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the BMW R1200gs. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 11 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The BMW R1200gs ages relatively gracefully. The failure rate increase of 9% after warranty is below average, suggesting good long-term reliability. Peak failure occurs at age 6 (10.7% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 4.8% | 152 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 3.9% | 124 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.6% | 82 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 1.2% | 37 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.6% | 20 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 0.5% | 16 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 0.3% | 9 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Tyres | 0.3% | 9 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.2% | 7 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.1% | 3 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 23,494 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 2.05 | 4.8% | 152 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 1.67 | 3.9% | 124 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.10 | 2.6% | 82 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.50 | 1.2% | 37 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.27 | 0.6% | 20 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.22 | 0.5% | 16 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.12 | 0.3% | 9 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.12 | 0.3% | 9 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.09 | 0.2% | 7 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.04 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.03 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average BMW R1200gs has 23,494 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The BMW R1200gs has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.79% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About BMW R1200gs MOT Data
The BMW R1200gs is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,163 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 12 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.1% and a failure rate of 8.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For BMW R1200gs owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific R1200gs is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 4.7% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 4.7% of MOT failures on the BMW R1200gs. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle brakes — 3.4% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 3.4% of MOT failures on the BMW R1200gs. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle tyres and wheels — 2.4% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 2.4% of MOT failures on the BMW R1200gs. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW R1200gs?
Based on 3,163 MOT tests in our database, the BMW R1200gs has an overall pass rate of 91.1% (8.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW R1200gs?
The top 3 reasons a BMW R1200gs fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (4.7%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (3.4%), 3. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (2.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the BMW R1200gs reliable?
With a 8.9% MOT failure rate, the R1200gs is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my BMW R1200gs?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (4.7%); Motorcycle brakes (3.4%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (2.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.