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League table/ SUZUKI/GSF600 BANDIT
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI GSF600 BANDIT

599cc Petrol Class 2
#4640 of 5428 overall #636 of 680 SUZUKIs #2766 of 2788 other bikes
71.2%
first-time pass rate
18.4%
failed outright
28,300
median miles at test
549
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-10.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2016

The GSF600 BANDIT's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.7 points since 2006, 84.4% to 76.7%.

50%71%91%2006: 84.4% pass (32 tests)2007: 60.5% pass (38 tests)2008: 63.9% pass (36 tests)2009: 73.0% pass (37 tests)2010: 75.7% pass (37 tests)2011: 70.6% pass (34 tests)2012: 75.0% pass (36 tests)2013: 56.8% pass (37 tests)2014: 62.5% pass (32 tests)2015: 70.3% pass (37 tests)2016: 76.7% pass (30 tests)20062016

Pass rate by mileage

how the GSF600 BANDIT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GSF600 BANDIT passes first time 73.3% of the time; by 40k that's 67.1%.

66%70%75%10k: 73.3% pass (120 tests)20k: 73.3% pass (165 tests)30k: 69.7% pass (122 tests)40k: 67.1% pass (82 tests)10k30k40k

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 GSF600 BANDIT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
63 27.2 2.1×
lighting and signalling
52 22.4 1.3×
steering and suspension
28 12.1 1.2×
lamps and reflectors
26 11.2 1.4×
tyres and wheels
25 10.8 1.8×
structure and attachments
10 4.3 2.1×
suspension
8 3.4 2.0×
fuel and exhaust
8 3.4 1.9×
drive system
6 2.6 1.5×
steering
6 2.6 1.3×

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 GSF600 BANDIT beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 GSF600 BANDIT.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the GSF600 Bandit

More SUZUKI models

other SUZUKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
SUZUKI GSXR600 76.7% pass · 149k tests
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests
SUZUKI GSXR750 79.8% pass · 99.2k tests
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests
SUZUKI GSXR1000 83.8% pass · 97.5k tests
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

See all SUZUKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1995 (76.3%). Lowest: 1998 (68.5%). Every GSF600 Bandit year compared →

67%72%78%1995: 76.3% pass (59 tests)1996: 69.7% pass (201 tests)1997: 72.4% pass (116 tests)1998: 68.5% pass (111 tests)199519971998

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 GSF600 BANDIT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GSF600 BANDIT reliable?

The SUZUKI GSF600 BANDIT is less reliable than average for its class: 71.2% of its 549 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4640 of 5428 models.

What does a GSF600 BANDIT fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 27% of all defects recorded against failed GSF600 BANDIT tests.

What is the best year of GSF600 BANDIT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (76.3%) and 1998 worst (68.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GSF600 BANDIT last?

The median GSF600 BANDIT shows 28,300 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 67.1% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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