BMW F 850 GS TE MOT pass rate and common failures
BMW F 850 GS TE motorcycles pass the MOT 94.67% of the time, measured across 225 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.22% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with too low - it accounts for 57.1% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock and missing, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (3.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 9,187 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 94.67% | 225 |
Why the BMW F 850 GS TE 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 low | 57.1% | 4 | |
| 2 | Fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock | 42.9% | 3 | |
| 3 | Missing | 28.6% | 2 | |
| 4 | Excessively loose | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 5 | Fluid level below minimum level | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 6 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 7 | Not working | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 8 | Spoke missing | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 9 | Too high | 14.3% | 1 |
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 | 3.1% | 7 | |
| 2 | Excessively loose | 2.7% | 6 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.8% | 4 | |
| 4 | Excessively binding | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 5 | Excessively distorted | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 6 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 7 | Worn to excess | 1.3% | 3 | |
| 8 | Has negligible damping effect | 0.4% | 1 | |
| 9 | Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied | 0.4% | 1 | |
| 10 | Nail in tyre | 0.4% | 1 |
BMW F 850 GS TE for sale
No BMW F 850 GS TE in stock at the moment - 86 other BMW bikes are advertised.
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