SUZUKI BANDIT 1200

1157cc Petrol Class 2

#3242 of 5426 overall #431 of 680 SUZUKIs #2065 of 2787 other bikes

81.7%

first-time pass rate

11.4%

failed outright

22,625

median miles at test

932

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2022

The BANDIT 1200's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.3 points since 2006, 85.9% to 80.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the BANDIT 1200's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage BANDIT 1200 passes first time 86.3% of the time; by 40k that's 82.3%.

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 BANDIT 1200

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	87	34	1.2×
brakes	47	18.4	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	31	12.1	1.1×
steering and suspension	30	11.7	0.9×
tyres and wheels	24	9.4	1.1×
reg plates and vin	11	4.3	1.9×
fuel and exhaust	9	3.5	1.0×
tyres	6	2.3	0.6×
drive system	6	2.3	0.7×
body and structure	5	2	0.9×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the BANDIT 1200 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests

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 BANDIT 1200.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (82.1% pass). Weakest: 2000 (71.2%).

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.

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 reliable?

The SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.7% of its 932 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3242 of 5426 models.

What does a BANDIT 1200 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed BANDIT 1200 tests.

What is the best year of BANDIT 1200 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (82.1%) and 2000 worst (71.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a BANDIT 1200 last?

The median BANDIT 1200 shows 22,625 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.