BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BMW C400/vs Suzuki AN400
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

BMW C400 vs Suzuki AN400

The BMW C400 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki AN400: 95.1% vs 86.2%, a 8.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric BMW C400 Suzuki AN400
First-time pass rate 95.1% 86.2%
Outright fail rate 3.1% 9.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +6.2 pts +1.3 pts
Engine size 350cc 385cc
Rank among all models #67 of 5428 #2148 of 5428
Median miles at test 4,877 15,861
MOT tests analysed 1,126 27,056
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 C400 Suzuki AN400
Brakes 0.9% 4.4%
Tyres & wheels 1.2% 3.2%
Lights & signalling 0.7% 2.6%
Steering & suspension 0.5% 2.3%
Fuel & exhaust 0% 0.4%
Structure & body 0.1% 0.3%

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 C400 Suzuki AN400
2022 96.2% 83.0%
2023 94.4% 83.0%
2024 96.4% 83.1%
2025 93.9% 86.9%

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 BMW C400 Suzuki AN400
0k-10k miles 96.4% 91.7%
10k-20k miles 92.6% 86.7%
20k-30k miles 81.3% 82.7%

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

BMW C400 vs Suzuki AN400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW C400 or the Suzuki AN400?

The BMW C400 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki AN400: 95.1% vs 86.2%, a 8.9-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW C400 still comes out ahead: +6.2 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW C400, +1.3 for the Suzuki AN400. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW C400 fail its MOT on most?

Tyres & wheels: 1.2% of BMW C400 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (0.9%).

What does the Suzuki AN400 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.4% of Suzuki AN400 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (3.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW C400 or the Suzuki AN400?

At 20k-30k miles the Suzuki AN400 passes first time more often: 81.3% for the BMW C400 vs 82.7% for the Suzuki AN400.

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