BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ MV Agusta F4/vs Suzuki GSF1200
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

MV Agusta F4 vs Suzuki GSF1200

The MV Agusta F4 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF1200: 86.7% vs 82.4%, a 4.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric MV Agusta F4 Suzuki GSF1200
First-time pass rate 86.7% 82.4%
Outright fail rate 6.9% 8.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.5 pts -1.2 pts
Engine size 998cc 1,157cc
Rank among all models #1985 of 5428 #3108 of 5428
Median miles at test 7,226 20,274
MOT tests analysed 8,072 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 MV Agusta F4 Suzuki GSF1200
Lights & signalling 3.9% 4.5%
Brakes 1.6% 2.8%
Steering & suspension 1.9% 2.2%
Tyres & wheels 1.1% 2.0%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.8%
Fuel & exhaust 0.1% 0.8%
Drive system 0.2% 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 MV Agusta F4 Suzuki GSF1200
2018 89.4% 83.2%
2019 88.3% 82.9%
2020 87.7% 83.4%
2021 89.7% 82.9%
2022 87.7% 83.6%
2023 89.0% 83.8%
2024 87.6% 83.4%
2025 89.1% 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 MV Agusta F4 Suzuki GSF1200
0k-10k miles 88.0% 87.7%
10k-20k miles 85.0% 83.8%
20k-30k miles 84.0% 81.1%
30k-40k miles 87.5% 78.5%

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

MV Agusta F4 vs Suzuki GSF1200 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the MV Agusta F4 or the Suzuki GSF1200?

The MV Agusta F4 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF1200: 86.7% vs 82.4%, a 4.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.5 vs -1.2 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 MV Agusta F4 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.9% of MV Agusta F4 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.9%).

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 MV Agusta F4 or the Suzuki GSF1200?

At 30k-40k miles the MV Agusta F4 passes first time more often: 87.5% for the MV Agusta F4 vs 78.5% for the Suzuki GSF1200.

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