BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
Model report · 2005–2025
80.7%
first-time pass rate
12.1%
failed outright
36,604
median miles at test
445
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2013

The GPZ900's first-time pass rate has risen 6.2 points since 2006, 80.5% to 86.7%.

72%81%90%2006: 80.5% pass (41 tests)2007: 81.3% pass (32 tests)2008: 75.0% pass (36 tests)2009: 79.5% pass (39 tests)2010: 86.1% pass (36 tests)2011: 84.8% pass (33 tests)2013: 86.7% pass (30 tests)20062013

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPZ900's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPZ900 passes first time 80.0% of the time; by 50k that's 68.3%.

65%76%86%10k: 80.0% pass (45 tests)20k: 81.7% pass (93 tests)30k: 80.4% pass (102 tests)40k: 83.1% pass (83 tests)50k: 68.3% pass (41 tests)10k30k50k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a GPZ900

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
40 31.5
lighting and signalling
29 22.8
steering and suspension
28 22
tyres and wheels
8 6.3
fuel and exhaust
6 4.7
drive system
5 3.9
lamps and reflectors
4 3.1
audible warning (Horn)
3 2.4
reg plates and vin
2 1.6
driving controls
2 1.6

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GPZ900 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE, TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE, APRILIA TUONO).

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the GPZ900.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1990 (78.0% pass). Weakest: 1985 (75.4%).

75%77%79%1984: 76.8% pass (99 tests)1985: 75.4% pass (69 tests)1990: 78.0% pass (109 tests)198419851990

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.