BMW S 1000 R SPORT MOT pass rate and common failures

BMW S 1000 R SPORT motorcycles pass the MOT 96% of the time, measured across 875 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.4% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 9.1 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 96% 840 of 875

Fixed at the station 2.4% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 6,553 miles

Average age at test 3.42 years old

Engine 999cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 BMW S 1000 R SPORT adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 92.9% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too high and does not conform to the specified requirements, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (6.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 6,553 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	96%		874

Why the BMW S 1000 R SPORT 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	Missing	92.9%	13
2	Too high	42.9%	6
3	Does not conform to the specified requirements	35.7%	5
4	Obviously incorrectly positioned	21.4%	3
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	21.4%	3
6	Insecure	14.3%	2
7	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	14.3%	2
8	Throwing direct white light to the rear	14.3%	2
9	Contaminated	7.1%	1
10	Excessively tight	7.1%	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	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	6.6%	58
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.1%	18
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.4%	12
4	Tread not clearly visible	1%	9
5	Excessively loose	0.9%	8
6	Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied	0.6%	5
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	0.6%	5
8	Worn to excess	0.6%	5
9	Excessively distorted	0.5%	4
10	Excessively tight	0.5%	4

BMW S 1000 R SPORT for sale

No BMW S 1000 R SPORT in stock at the moment - 86 other BMW bikes are advertised.

Used BMW S 1000 R SPORT 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
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

BMW S 1000 R SPORT MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW S 1000 R SPORT?+

96% of BMW S 1000 R SPORT MOT tests end in a pass, based on 875 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW S 1000 R SPORT?+

Missing, which appears in 92.9% 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.