The MOT Files

Motorcycle reliability file

BMW F850 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 758 recorded MOT tests of the BMW F850, published by DVSA.

Data updated

Quick answer

The BMW F850 passes 95.3% of MOT tests, against 86.5% for all motorcycles. The most recorded failure is "A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely", in 20.0% of failed tests.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

95.3%unadjusted758 tests

8.7 points above the fleet average of 86.5%. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare fairly against the rest of the fleet, so no rank is claimed; the failure record below stands on its own.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed BMW F850 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several, so these do not sum to 100%.

  1. 1.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely20.0%

    3 occurrences

  2. 2.A footrest missing or insecure20.0%

    3 occurrences

  3. 3.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm13.3%

    2 occurrences

  4. 4.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn13.3%

    2 occurrences

  5. 5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.3%

    2 occurrences

  6. 6.Handlebar fractured, deformed or corroded to the extent that steering is adversely affected or detachment likely6.7%

    1 occurrences

  7. 7.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake6.7%

    1 occurrences

  8. 8.Restriction in the movement of the handlebars from lock to lock6.7%

    1 occurrences

  9. 9.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley so loose or worn it is likely to fail6.7%

    1 occurrences

  10. 10.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn6.7%

    1 occurrences

  11. 11.Handlebar fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock6.7%

    1 occurrences

  12. 12.Headlamp aim unable to be tested6.7%

    1 occurrences

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all BMW F850 tests carrying each advisory.

  1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements5.0%

    38 tests

  2. 2.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm3.7%

    28 tests

  3. 3.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn2.8%

    21 tests

  4. 4.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn2.4%

    18 tests

  5. 5.Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution1.6%

    12 tests

  6. 6.Brake control so positioned, bent or shortened that the brake cannot be readily applied.1.2%

    9 tests

  7. 7.Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted1.1%

    8 tests

  8. 8.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn0.9%

    7 tests

What gets tested

The F850 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test
13,114
Test classes
class 2: 756 · class 1: 2

Compare within the range

Other BMW motorcycles

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW F850?
95.3% unadjusted, from 758 DVSA tests. The average across all motorcycles is 86.5%.
What does a BMW F850 fail its MOT on?
"A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely" is recorded in 20.0% of failed BMW F850 tests, followed by "A footrest missing or insecure" (20.0%). One failed test often lists several items.
What mileage does a BMW F850 usually have at its MOT?
13,114 miles on average across every age tested, so a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure. Motorcycle mileages are low and vary enormously with use; a commuter bike and a weekend bike of the same age can differ by a factor of ten.

Analysis built from DVSA data of