BMW R 1250 RS SE MOT pass rate and common failures

BMW R 1250 RS SE motorcycles pass the MOT 97.48% of the time, measured across 476 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.05% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 10.6 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 97.48% 464 of 476

Fixed at the station 1.05% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 10,985 miles

Average age at test 3.46 years old

Engine 1,254cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 BMW R 1250 RS SE adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with has a serious fluid leak - it accounts for 42.9% of failed tests on this model.
Then check insecure and too high, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (3.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 10,985 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	97.48%		476

Why the BMW R 1250 RS SE 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	Has a serious fluid leak	42.9%	3
2	Insecure	42.9%	3
3	Too high	28.6%	2
4	Too low	28.6%	2
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	28.6%	2
6	Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	14.3%	1
7	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	14.3%	1
8	Obviously incorrectly positioned	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	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.8%	18
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.7%	13
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.3%	11
4	Excessively distorted	1.1%	5
5	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	0.8%	4
6	Nail in tyre	0.6%	3
7	Has a serious fluid leak	0.4%	2
8	Has excessive play	0.4%	2
9	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	0.4%	2
10	Significantly and obviously worn	0.4%	2

BMW R 1250 RS SE for sale

No BMW R 1250 RS SE in stock at the moment - 86 other BMW bikes are advertised.

Used BMW R 1250 RS SE 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
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

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

BMW R 1250 RS SE MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW R 1250 RS SE?+

97.48% of BMW R 1250 RS SE MOT tests end in a pass, based on 476 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW R 1250 RS SE?+

Has a serious fluid leak, which appears in 42.9% of failed tests on this model.

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.