BMW R1100 MOT pass rate & common failures

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

1.5 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 R1100 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 severely24.2%

   23 occurrences

2. 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements15.8%

   15 occurrences

3. 3.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake10.5%

   10 occurrences

4. 4.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.4%

   8 occurrences

5. 5.Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution7.4%

   7 occurrences

6. 6.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm6.3%

   6 occurrences

7. 7.A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released5.3%

   5 occurrences

8. 8.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake5.3%

   5 occurrences

9. 9.A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely which could cause sudden deflation of the tyre5.3%

   5 occurrences

10. 10.A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released4.2%

    4 occurrences

11. 11.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps4.2%

    4 occurrences

12. 12.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning4.2%

    4 occurrences

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all BMW R1100 tests carrying each advisory.

1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements7.7%

   92 tests

2. 2.Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution5.3%

   64 tests

3. 3.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake4.6%

   55 tests

4. 4.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm4.3%

   52 tests

5. 5.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely3.9%

   47 tests

6. 6.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured3.2%

   38 tests

7. 7.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn2.7%

   32 tests

8. 8.A wheel bearing with excessive play2.3%

   27 tests

What gets tested

The R1100 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test

42,418

Test classes

class 2: 1,200

Compare within the range

Other BMW motorcycles

• BMW R Series91.9% raw
• BMW R120094.9%
• BMW S 100091.8%
• BMW R125096.2% raw
• BMW R 120095.3% raw
• BMW K Series89.7% raw
• All BMW motorcycles

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW R1100?

88.0% unadjusted, from 1,200 DVSA tests. The average across all motorcycles is 86.5%.

What does a BMW R1100 fail its MOT on?

"A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely" is recorded in 24.2% of failed BMW R1100 tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (15.8%). One failed test often lists several items.

What mileage does a BMW R1100 usually have at its MOT?

42,418 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.