BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Benelli Tornado 900/vs Suzuki GSF1200
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Benelli Tornado 900 vs Suzuki GSF1200

The Benelli Tornado 900 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF1200: 87.2% vs 82.4%, a 4.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Benelli Tornado 900 Suzuki GSF1200
First-time pass rate 87.2% 82.4%
Outright fail rate 6.0% 8.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -1.2 pts -1.2 pts
Engine size 899cc 1,157cc
Rank among all models #1855 of 5428 #3108 of 5428
Median miles at test 5,908 20,274
MOT tests analysed 811 97,637
Most common failure lighting and signalling lighting and signalling

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.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Benelli Tornado 900 Suzuki GSF1200
Lights & signalling 2.8% 4.5%
Brakes 1.2% 2.8%
Steering & suspension 1.5% 2.2%
Tyres & wheels 1.0% 2.0%
Drive system 0.4% 0.6%
Fuel & exhaust 0% 0.8%
Structure & body 0% 0.8%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Benelli Tornado 900 Suzuki GSF1200
2010 82.6% 81.3%
2011 86.3% 80.2%
2012 89.5% 80.7%
2013 87.7% 80.2%
2014 90.4% 81.0%
2015 89.6% 81.9%
2016 84.3% 82.2%
2017 84.1% 82.9%

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 Benelli Tornado 900 Suzuki GSF1200
0k-10k miles 87.4% 87.7%
10k-20k miles 87.2% 83.8%

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

Benelli Tornado 900 vs Suzuki GSF1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Benelli Tornado 900 or the Suzuki GSF1200?

The Benelli Tornado 900 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF1200: 87.2% vs 82.4%, a 4.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-1.2 vs -1.2 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Benelli Tornado 900 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.8% of Benelli Tornado 900 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.5%).

What does the Suzuki GSF1200 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.5% of Suzuki GSF1200 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.8%).

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