BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BMW C Evolution/vs Suzuki GSF600
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

BMW C Evolution vs Suzuki GSF600

The BMW C Evolution passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 95.0% vs 77.3%, a 17.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric BMW C Evolution Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate 95.0% 77.3%
Outright fail rate 3.7% 14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +11.1 pts -6.1 pts
Engine size n/a 599cc
Rank among all models #77 of 5428 #4013 of 5428
Median miles at test 7,871 21,080
MOT tests analysed 544 143,023
Most common failure tyres 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.

"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 BMW C Evolution Suzuki GSF600
Brakes 1.5% 6.1%
Lights & signalling 0.7% 6.7%
Tyres & wheels 1.3% 3.3%
Steering & suspension 0.9% 3.6%
Structure & body 0% 1.5%
Drive system 0% 1.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0% 1.2%

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 BMW C Evolution Suzuki GSF600
2020 93.9% 77.8%
2021 97.4% 76.8%
2022 91.7% 78.1%
2023 96.9% 78.2%
2024 94.0% 78.9%
2025 94.2% 79.6%

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 BMW C Evolution Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles 95.8% 86.8%
10k-20k miles 94.5% 80.1%
20k-30k miles 91.7% 75.2%

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

BMW C Evolution vs Suzuki GSF600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW C Evolution or the Suzuki GSF600?

The BMW C Evolution passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 95.0% vs 77.3%, a 17.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW C Evolution still comes out ahead: +11.1 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW C Evolution, -6.1 for the Suzuki GSF600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW C Evolution fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 1.5% of BMW C Evolution MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.3%).

What does the Suzuki GSF600 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.7% of Suzuki GSF600 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (6.1%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW C Evolution or the Suzuki GSF600?

At 20k-30k miles the BMW C Evolution passes first time more often: 91.7% for the BMW C Evolution vs 75.2% for the Suzuki GSF600.

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