BMW F SERIES 651cc MOT pass rate and common failures

BMW F SERIES 651cc motorcycles pass the MOT 84.41% of the time, measured across 1,495 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.35% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Calculated from DVSA records for BMW F SERIES, 648-652cc.

About average - within 2.5 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 84.41% 1,262 of 1,495
Fixed at the station 5.35% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 29,064 miles
Average age at test 20.38 years old
Engine 651cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 BMW F SERIES 651cc adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with not working - it accounts for 32% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check has a serious fluid leak and too low, the next two most common reasons.
  • Age matters here: 89.63% of 11-15 year old examples pass, against 83.77% at 16+ years - a gap of 5.9 points.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (5.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 29,064 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
11-15 years 89.63% 164
16+ years 83.77% 1,331

Why the BMW F SERIES 651cc 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 Not working 32% 49
2 Has a serious fluid leak 21.6% 33
3 Too low 12.4% 19
4 Too high 11.8% 18
5 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8.5% 13
6 Less than 1.0 mm thick 7.8% 12
7 Not working on dipped beam 7.8% 12
8 Remains on when the brakes are released 7.2% 11
9 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 6.5% 10
10 Fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock 5.2% 8

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 Less than 1.0 mm thick 5.9% 88
2 Has a serious fluid leak 5.4% 80
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4.9% 73
4 Significantly and obviously worn 3.1% 47
5 Excessively loose 2.6% 39
6 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.3% 35
7 Excessively stiff or notchy 2.1% 32
8 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 1.9% 28
9 Worn to excess 1.8% 27
10 Excessively binding 1.7% 26

BMW F SERIES 651cc for sale

No BMW F SERIES 651cc in stock at the moment - 87 other BMW bikes are advertised.

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model Tests Pass rate   Avg mileage
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc 5,400 89.76% 19,444
Honda NC · 741cc 5,311 89.53% 22,765
Honda CBR600F · 599cc 4,914 85.61% 30,486
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc 4,890 80% 29,308
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc 4,713 81.54% 26,085
Royal Enfield INTERCEPTOR INT 650 · 649cc 4,016 91.24% 5,914

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

BMW F SERIES 651cc MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW F SERIES 651cc?+
84.41% of BMW F SERIES 651cc MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,495 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW F SERIES 651cc?+
Not working, which appears in 32% of failed tests on this model.
Does the BMW F SERIES 651cc get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 16+ years old the pass rate is 83.77%, against 89.63% for examples 11-15 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.
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