BMW R100 MOT pass rate and common failures
BMW R100 motorcycles pass the MOT 91.43% of the time, measured across 455 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.96% 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 not working - it accounts for 57.1% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working on dipped beam and too high, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (3.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 40,529 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 91.36% | 440 |
Why the BMW R100 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 | 57.1% | 12 | |
| 2 | Not working on dipped beam | 19% | 4 | |
| 3 | Too high | 19% | 4 | |
| 4 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 5 | Excessively binding | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 6 | Grip insecure to handlebar | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 7 | Insecure | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 8 | Missing | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 9 | Too low | 14.3% | 3 | |
| 10 | Unable to be tested | 14.3% | 3 |
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 | 3.3% | 15 | |
| 2 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.2% | 10 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 1.8% | 8 | |
| 4 | Has excessive play | 1.1% | 5 | |
| 5 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 1.1% | 5 | |
| 6 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 0.9% | 4 | |
| 7 | Excessively binding | 0.7% | 3 | |
| 8 | Excessively distorted | 0.7% | 3 | |
| 9 | Has negligible damping effect | 0.7% | 3 | |
| 10 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 0.7% | 3 |
BMW R100 for sale
No BMW R100 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 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 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method