Suzuki Gsxr 1000 RAL9 vs Yamaha YZF-R1

The Suzuki Gsxr 1000 RAL9 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha YZF-R1: 94.4% vs 84.1%, a 10.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Suzuki Gsxr 1000 RAL9	Yamaha YZF-R1
First-time pass rate	94.4%	84.1%
Outright fail rate	1.5%	7.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+5.4 pts	-0.5 pts
Engine size	1,000cc	998cc
Median miles at test	5,186	16,705
MOT tests analysed	195	231,553
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Suzuki Gsxr 1000 RAL9	Yamaha YZF-R1
2022	93.5%	86.4%
2023	93.4%	87.2%
2024	94.0%	88.2%
2025	96.2%	87.9%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

SUZUKI GSXR 1000 RAL9 94.4% pass · 195 tests YAMAHA YZF-R1 84.1% pass · 232k tests

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