MZ 500R vs Suzuki GSF600

The MZ 500R passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 90.4% vs 77.3%, a 13.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	MZ 500R	Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate	90.4%	77.3%
Outright fail rate	3.7%	14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+7.7 pts	-6.1 pts
Engine size	494cc	599cc
Median miles at test	22,513	21,080
MOT tests analysed	188	143,023
Most common failure	steering and suspension	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.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	MZ 500R	Suzuki GSF600
10k-20k miles	91.3%	80.1%
20k-30k miles	96.4%	75.2%

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

MZ 500R 90.4% pass · 188 tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests

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