BMW G SERIES MOT pass rate and common failures

BMW G SERIES motorcycles pass the MOT 91.1% of the time, measured across 472 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.81% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 4.2 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 91.1% 430 of 472

Fixed at the station 3.81% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 19,837 miles

Average age at test 14.06 years old

Engine 651cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 BMW G SERIES 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 33.3% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and excessively loose, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (6.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 19,837 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	91.74%		363
16+ years	88.68%		106

Why the BMW G SERIES 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	33.3%	8
2	Has a serious fluid leak	25%	6
3	Excessively loose	16.7%	4
4	Missing	16.7%	4
5	Not working on dipped beam	16.7%	4
6	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	12.5%	3
7	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	12.5%	3
8	Too high	12.5%	3
9	Too low	12.5%	3
10	Excessively binding	8.3%	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	Less than 1.0 mm thick	6.8%	32
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.7%	22
3	Excessively stiff or notchy	3.4%	16
4	Has a serious fluid leak	3%	14
5	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	2.5%	12
6	Worn to excess	2.5%	12
7	Excessively binding	1.9%	9
8	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.7%	8
9	Significantly and obviously worn	1.5%	7
10	Has negligible damping effect	1.3%	6

BMW G SERIES for sale

No BMW G SERIES in stock at the moment - 86 other BMW bikes are advertised.

Used BMW G SERIES 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
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc	5,400	89.76%	19,444
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc	4,890	80%	29,308
Honda CBR600F · 599cc	4,710	85.56%	30,651
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc	4,510	81.62%	26,019
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc	3,834	80.99%	27,644

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

BMW G SERIES MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW G SERIES?+

91.1% of BMW G SERIES MOT tests end in a pass, based on 472 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW G SERIES?+

Not working, which appears in 33.3% of failed tests on this model.

Does the BMW G SERIES get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 88.68%, against 91.74% 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.