Ariel VH vs Suzuki GSF600

The Ariel VH passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 88.9% vs 77.3%, a 11.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Ariel VH	Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate	88.9%	77.3%
Outright fail rate	2.9%	14.2%
Engine size	500cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#1305 of 5428	#4013 of 5428
Median miles at test	23,895	21,080
MOT tests analysed	307	143,023
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Ariel VH	Suzuki GSF600
2006	91.3%	81.8%
2007	92.7%	80.0%
2008	90.7%	78.4%
2009	90.2%	75.8%
2010	86.1%	75.8%
2011	87.2%	76.1%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Ariel VH	Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles	86.2%	86.8%
10k-20k miles	79.1%	80.1%
30k-40k miles	92.7%	71.3%
40k-50k miles	97.1%	69.4%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

ARIEL VH 88.9% pass · 307 tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.