SUZUKI RF900R

937cc Petrol Class 2

#3787 of 5426 overall #521 of 680 SUZUKIs #2404 of 2787 other bikes

78.9%

first-time pass rate

13.3%

failed outright

26,651

median miles at test

10.1k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The RF900R's first-time pass rate has risen 2.9 points since 2005, 80.3% to 83.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RF900R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage RF900R passes first time 88.3% of the time; by 50k that's 74.9%.

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 RF900R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	752	27	1.3×
lighting and signalling	664	23.9	1.2×
steering and suspension	569	20.5	1.4×
tyres and wheels	283	10.2	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	169	6.1	0.7×
drive system	123	4.4	1.3×
tyres	60	2.2	0.7×
suspension	59	2.1	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	54	1.9	0.7×
structure and attachments	48	1.7	0.6×

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 RF900R 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 RF900R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (85.9% pass). Weakest: 1994 (76.3%).

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 RF900R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI RF900R reliable?

The SUZUKI RF900R is less reliable than average for its class: 78.9% of its 10,146 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3787 of 5426 models.

What does a RF900R fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 27% of all defects recorded against failed RF900R tests.

What is the best year of RF900R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (85.9%) and 1994 worst (76.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RF900R last?

The median RF900R shows 26,651 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 74.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.