BMW F 700 GS MOT pass rate and common failures

BMW F 700 GS motorcycles pass the MOT 93.75% of the time, measured across 592 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.55% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 6.9 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 93.75% 555 of 592

Fixed at the station 3.55% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 21,332 miles

Average age at test 10.14 years old

Engine 798cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 BMW F 700 GS adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with too high - it accounts for 43.8% of failed tests on this model.
Then check inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps and less than 1.0 mm thick, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 21,332 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
6-10 years	93.83%		373
11-15 years	93.61%		219

Why the BMW F 700 GS fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Too high	43.8%	7
2	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	25%	4
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	25%	4
4	Too low	25%	4
5	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	18.8%	3
6	Excessively binding	18.8%	3
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	18.8%	3
8	Contaminated	12.5%	2
9	Has a serious fluid leak	12.5%	2
10	Insecure	12.5%	2

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.9%	29
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3.4%	20
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.2%	19
4	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.4%	14
5	Excessively loose	2.2%	13
6	Significantly and obviously worn	2%	12
7	Has a serious fluid leak	1.9%	11
8	Worn to excess	1.7%	10
9	Tread not clearly visible	1.5%	9
10	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1%	6

BMW F 700 GS for sale

No BMW F 700 GS in stock at the moment - 86 other BMW bikes are advertised.

Used BMW F 700 GS Used BMW All BMW BMW MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc	6,022	88.01%	23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc	5,720	90.98%	16,130
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

BMW F 700 GS MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW F 700 GS?+

93.75% of BMW F 700 GS MOT tests end in a pass, based on 592 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW F 700 GS?+

Too high, which appears in 43.8% of failed tests on this model.

Does the BMW F 700 GS get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 93.61%, against 93.83% for examples 6-10 years old.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.