BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Kawasaki GPZ900R/vs Aprilia Tuono
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Kawasaki GPZ900R vs Aprilia Tuono

The Aprilia Tuono passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki GPZ900R: 88.4% vs 81.4%, a 7.0-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Kawasaki GPZ900R Aprilia Tuono
First-time pass rate 81.4% 88.4%
Outright fail rate 11.9% 5.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.5 pts +2.3 pts
Engine size 908cc 998cc
Rank among all models #3291 of 5428 #1478 of 5428
Median miles at test 35,608 11,489
MOT tests analysed 10,976 34,724
Most common failure brakes 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 Kawasaki GPZ900R Aprilia Tuono
Lights & signalling 5.4% 2.5%
Brakes 5.5% 1.5%
Steering & suspension 5.0% 1.2%
Tyres & wheels 1.7% 1.1%
Drive system 0.9% 0.3%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.6%
Fuel & exhaust 0.8% 0.2%

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 Kawasaki GPZ900R Aprilia Tuono
2018 87.5% 88.7%
2019 85.3% 89.4%
2020 87.2% 90.5%
2021 88.6% 90.2%
2022 91.9% 89.9%
2023 88.7% 90.4%
2024 85.8% 91.3%
2025 89.2% 90.3%

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 Kawasaki GPZ900R Aprilia Tuono
0k-10k miles 82.6% 90.7%
10k-20k miles 85.6% 87.2%
20k-30k miles 82.5% 86.2%
30k-40k miles 79.8% 84.6%
40k-50k miles 80.7% 82.1%
50k-60k miles 79.9% 85.7%

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

Kawasaki GPZ900R vs Aprilia Tuono FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki GPZ900R or the Aprilia Tuono?

The Aprilia Tuono passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki GPZ900R: 88.4% vs 81.4%, a 7.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Aprilia Tuono still comes out ahead: -0.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Kawasaki GPZ900R, +2.3 for the Aprilia Tuono. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Kawasaki GPZ900R fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 5.5% of Kawasaki GPZ900R MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (5.4%).

What does the Aprilia Tuono fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.5% of Aprilia Tuono MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Kawasaki GPZ900R or the Aprilia Tuono?

At 50k-60k miles the Aprilia Tuono passes first time more often: 79.9% for the Kawasaki GPZ900R vs 85.7% for the Aprilia Tuono.

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