BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5/vs Honda CBR900RR
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 vs Honda CBR900RR

The Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBR900RR: 84.8% vs 83.2%, a 1.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 Honda CBR900RR
First-time pass rate 84.8% 83.2%
Outright fail rate 7.1% 9.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.3 pts +0.1 pts
Engine size 999cc 918cc
Rank among all models #2543 of 5428 #2911 of 5428
Median miles at test 14,976 22,163
MOT tests analysed 6,599 165,881
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 Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 Honda CBR900RR
Lights & signalling 3.7% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 2.1% 3.6%
Brakes 1.0% 2.9%
Tyres & wheels 1.4% 2.3%
Fuel & exhaust 0.6% 0.6%
Structure & body 0.4% 0.7%
Drive system 0.3% 0.5%

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 Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 Honda CBR900RR
2018 85.7% 84.7%
2019 82.0% 84.8%
2020 86.6% 85.5%
2021 87.5% 86.2%
2022 89.7% 86.6%
2023 88.8% 87.7%
2024 86.2% 87.0%
2025 87.2% 88.8%

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 Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 Honda CBR900RR
0k-10k miles 85.4% 88.6%
10k-20k miles 85.2% 85.5%
20k-30k miles 84.9% 81.9%
30k-40k miles 82.5% 80.6%
40k-50k miles 84.4% 79.7%
50k-60k miles 79.4% 78.8%

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

Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 vs Honda CBR900RR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 or the Honda CBR900RR?

The Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBR900RR: 84.8% vs 83.2%, a 1.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.3 vs +0.1 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 Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.7% of Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.1%).

What does the Honda CBR900RR fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.9% of Honda CBR900RR MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (3.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 or the Honda CBR900RR?

They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Suzuki Gsxr 1000 K5 passes 79.4% first time and the Honda CBR900RR 78.8%.

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