BMW F 900 XR MOT pass rate and common failures
BMW F 900 XR motorcycles pass the MOT 93.42% of the time, measured across 243 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.12% 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 high - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and not working, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 8,387 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 | 93.42% | 243 |
Why the BMW F 900 XR 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 | 100% | 6 | |
| 2 | Missing | 33.3% | 2 | |
| 3 | Not working | 33.3% | 2 | |
| 4 | Too low | 33.3% | 2 | |
| 5 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 16.7% | 1 | |
| 6 | Excessively loose | 16.7% | 1 | |
| 7 | Has excessive play | 16.7% | 1 | |
| 8 | Has ply or cord exposed | 16.7% | 1 | |
| 9 | Remains on when the brakes are released | 16.7% | 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 | 4.1% | 10 | |
| 2 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.9% | 7 | |
| 3 | Excessively loose | 2.1% | 5 | |
| 4 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 1.6% | 4 | |
| 5 | Sprocket worn to excess | 1.2% | 3 | |
| 6 | Worn to excess | 1.2% | 3 | |
| 7 | Excessively tight | 0.8% | 2 | |
| 8 | Has a serious fluid leak | 0.8% | 2 | |
| 9 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 0.8% | 2 | |
| 10 | Grabbing severely | 0.4% | 1 |
BMW F 900 XR for sale
No BMW F 900 XR 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 R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| 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 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method