BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F/vs Suzuki GSF600
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F vs Suzuki GSF600

The Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 80.3% vs 77.3%, a 3.0-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate 80.3% 77.3%
Outright fail rate 10.6% 14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -5.9 pts -6.1 pts
Engine size 599cc 599cc
Rank among all models #3516 of 5428 #4013 of 5428
Median miles at test 11,683 21,080
MOT tests analysed 6,628 143,023
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.

"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 ZX 600 P7F Suzuki GSF600
Lights & signalling 5.8% 6.7%
Brakes 2.8% 6.1%
Steering & suspension 2.3% 3.6%
Tyres & wheels 2.3% 3.3%
Structure & body 1.0% 1.5%
Drive system 0.5% 1.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0.2% 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 Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F Suzuki GSF600
2018 82.5% 77.7%
2019 76.2% 76.7%
2020 79.2% 77.8%
2021 80.6% 76.8%
2022 78.2% 78.1%
2023 83.0% 78.2%
2024 81.1% 78.9%
2025 77.7% 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 Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles 84.2% 86.8%
10k-20k miles 78.9% 80.1%
20k-30k miles 76.6% 75.2%
30k-40k miles 69.6% 71.3%
40k-50k miles 65.4% 69.4%

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

Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F vs Suzuki GSF600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F or the Suzuki GSF600?

The Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 80.3% vs 77.3%, a 3.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-5.9 vs -6.1 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 Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 5.8% of Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.8%).

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 Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F or the Suzuki GSF600?

At 40k-50k miles the Suzuki GSF600 passes first time more often: 65.4% for the Kawasaki ZX 600 P7F vs 69.4% for the Suzuki GSF600.

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