BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KTM 990 Supermoto/vs Suzuki GSF1200
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KTM 990 Supermoto vs Suzuki GSF1200

The KTM 990 Supermoto passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF1200: 87.7% vs 82.4%, a 5.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric KTM 990 Supermoto Suzuki GSF1200
First-time pass rate 87.7% 82.4%
Outright fail rate 5.6% 8.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +2.2 pts -1.2 pts
Engine size 942cc 1,157cc
Rank among all models #1695 of 5428 #3108 of 5428
Median miles at test 13,617 20,274
MOT tests analysed 1,655 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 KTM 990 Supermoto Suzuki GSF1200
Lights & signalling 3.1% 4.5%
Brakes 1.2% 2.8%
Tyres & wheels 1.3% 2.0%
Steering & suspension 0.9% 2.2%
Structure & body 0.5% 0.8%
Fuel & exhaust 0.3% 0.8%
Drive system 0.1% 0.6%

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 KTM 990 Supermoto Suzuki GSF1200
2018 95.0% 83.2%
2019 89.4% 82.9%
2020 91.6% 83.4%
2021 91.1% 82.9%
2022 90.6% 83.6%
2023 93.0% 83.8%
2024 93.8% 83.4%
2025 86.8% 84.1%

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 KTM 990 Supermoto Suzuki GSF1200
0k-10k miles 88.9% 87.7%
10k-20k miles 87.4% 83.8%
20k-30k miles 87.6% 81.1%
30k-40k miles 86.6% 78.5%

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

KTM 990 Supermoto vs Suzuki GSF1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM 990 Supermoto or the Suzuki GSF1200?

The KTM 990 Supermoto passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF1200: 87.7% vs 82.4%, a 5.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the KTM 990 Supermoto still comes out ahead: +2.2 points vs comparable bikes for the KTM 990 Supermoto, -1.2 for the Suzuki GSF1200. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the KTM 990 Supermoto fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.1% of KTM 990 Supermoto MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.3%).

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%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the KTM 990 Supermoto or the Suzuki GSF1200?

At 30k-40k miles the KTM 990 Supermoto passes first time more often: 86.6% for the KTM 990 Supermoto vs 78.5% for the Suzuki GSF1200.

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