1981 BMW R65 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

86.5%

Latest Pass Rate

1,002

Total Tests (All Years)

35,893 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 BMW R65 as it ages.

28 yrs81.8%

→ ↑1.5%

29 yrs83.3%

→ ↓6.0%

30 yrs77.3%

→ ↑6.6%

31 yrs83.9%

→ ↓1.3%

32 yrs82.6%

→ ↓3.1%

33 yrs79.5%

→ ↑9.7%

34 yrs89.2%

→ ↓2.4%

35 yrs86.8%

→ ↓1.9%

36 yrs84.9%

→ ↓0.6%

37 yrs84.3%

→ ↑6.3%

38 yrs90.6%

→ ↓1.1%

39 yrs89.5%

→ ↓3.0%

40 yrs86.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	81.8%	110
29 yrs	83.3%	102
30 yrs	77.3%	97
31 yrs	83.9%	87
32 yrs	82.6%	92
33 yrs	79.5%	88
34 yrs	89.2%	83
35 yrs	86.8%	76
36 yrs	84.9%	73
37 yrs	84.3%	51
38 yrs	90.6%	53
39 yrs	89.5%	38
40 yrs	86.5%	52

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 BMW R65 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	86.5%	52
2020 (39 yrs)	89.5%	38
2019 (38 yrs)	90.6%	53
2018 (37 yrs)	84.3%	51
2017 (36 yrs)	84.9%	73
2016 (35 yrs)	86.8%	76
2015 (34 yrs)	89.2%	83
2014 (33 yrs)	79.5%	88
2013 (32 yrs)	82.6%	92
2012 (31 yrs)	83.9%	87
2011 (30 yrs)	77.3%	97
2010 (29 yrs)	83.3%	102
2009 (28 yrs)	81.8%	110

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

81.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 110Avg Mileage 39,165Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.9%

2010

83.3%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 102Avg Mileage 46,148Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.8%

2011

77.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 97Avg Mileage 40,598Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 14.4%

2012

83.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 87Avg Mileage 40,905Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.5%

2013

82.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 92Avg Mileage 40,883Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 20.7%

2014

79.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 88Avg Mileage 40,416Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 20.5%

2015

89.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 83Avg Mileage 37,932Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 8.4%

2016

86.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 76Avg Mileage 33,266Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.5%

2017

84.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 73Avg Mileage 36,289Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 16.4%

2018

84.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 51Avg Mileage 41,391Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 5.9%

2019

90.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 53Avg Mileage 36,604Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 13.2%

2020

89.5%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 38Avg Mileage 37,033Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 13.2%

2021

86.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 52Avg Mileage 35,893Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 11.5%

MOT results for 1981 BMW R65 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	81.8%	110	39,165	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.9%
2010	29	83.3%	102	46,148	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.8%
2011	30	77.3%	97	40,598	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 14.4%
2012	31	83.9%	87	40,905	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.5%
2013	32	82.6%	92	40,883	Motorcycle brakes — 20.7%
2014	33	79.5%	88	40,416	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 20.5%
2015	34	89.2%	83	37,932	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 8.4%
2016	35	86.8%	76	33,266	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.5%
2017	36	84.9%	73	36,289	Motorcycle brakes — 16.4%
2018	37	84.3%	51	41,391	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 5.9%
2019	38	90.6%	53	36,604	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 13.2%
2020	39	89.5%	38	37,033	Motorcycle brakes — 13.2%
2021	40	86.5%	52	35,893	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 11.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 BMW R65, with age trends.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

11.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle brakes

8.6%

— Consistent

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

8.3%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle steering and suspension

6.3%

— Consistent

Motorcycle tyres

3.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Motorcycle brakes	5.5% (28 yrs)	5.8% (40 yrs)	+0.3%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987

← Back to BMW R65 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW R65 page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW R65 cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 1,002 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.