BMW R1250 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 21,746 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 4.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
BMW R1250 MOT Reliability Overview
The BMW R1250 is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 21,746 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 95.6% and a failure rate of 4.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the BMW R1250 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average BMW R1250 presents for MOT with approximately 12,905 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2020 models achieve the highest pass rate at 96.1%, while 2021 models have the lowest at 95.3%. This 0.8 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the BMW R1250 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 2.4% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors at 1.6%. Motorcycle tyres rounds out the top three at 1.1%. 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
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 2 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different BMW R1250 vintages degrade over time, from age 2 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
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 Brakes | 2.4% | 523 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.6% | 342 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.1% | 250 |
| 4 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.4% | 81 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 0.4% | 79 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.4% | 77 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.1% | 23 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.1% | 21 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.1% | 20 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 12,905 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 brakes | 1.86 | 2.4% | 523 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.22 | 1.6% | 342 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.89 | 1.1% | 250 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.29 | 0.4% | 81 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.28 | 0.4% | 79 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.27 | 0.4% | 77 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.08 | 0.1% | 23 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.07 | 0.1% | 21 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.07 | 0.1% | 20 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.01 | 0.0% | 4 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average BMW R1250 has 12,905 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 R1250 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.41% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About BMW R1250 MOT Data
The BMW R1250 is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 21,746 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 95.6% and a failure rate of 4.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For BMW R1250 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle lamps and reflectors 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 R1250 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 2.4% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 2.4% of MOT failures on the BMW R1250. 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 lamps and reflectors — 1.6% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 1.6% of MOT failures on the BMW R1250. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Motorcycle tyres — 1.1% of failures
Motorcycle tyres issues account for 1.1% of MOT failures on the BMW R1250. 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 R1250?
Based on 21,746 MOT tests in our database, the BMW R1250 has an overall pass rate of 95.6% (4.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW R1250?
The top 3 reasons a BMW R1250 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (2.4%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (1.6%), 3. Motorcycle tyres (1.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the BMW R1250 reliable?
With a 4.4% MOT failure rate, the R1250 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my BMW R1250?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (2.4%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (1.6%); Motorcycle tyres (1.1%). 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.