BMW R1150 MOT pass rate and common failures
BMW R1150 motorcycles pass the MOT 88.3% of the time, measured across 1,265 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.64% 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 21.6% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and has a serious fluid leak, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (8.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 42,875 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 | 88.3% | 1,265 |
Why the BMW R1150 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 | 21.6% | 22 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 15.7% | 16 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 13.7% | 14 | |
| 4 | Too low | 13.7% | 14 | |
| 5 | Excessively binding | 11.8% | 12 | |
| 6 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 11.8% | 12 | |
| 7 | Not working on dipped beam | 8.8% | 9 | |
| 8 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 7.8% | 8 | |
| 9 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 7.8% | 8 | |
| 10 | Seriously damaged | 6.9% | 7 |
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 | 8.1% | 103 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 4.3% | 55 | |
| 3 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 4.3% | 54 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 3.7% | 47 | |
| 5 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 3.2% | 41 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 3.1% | 39 | |
| 7 | Has excessive play | 2.1% | 27 | |
| 8 | Significantly and obviously worn | 1.8% | 23 | |
| 9 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.5% | 19 | |
| 10 | Seriously damaged | 1.3% | 16 |
BMW R1150 for sale
No BMW R1150 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