BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ural Dalesman/vs Suzuki GSF600
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ural Dalesman vs Suzuki GSF600

The Ural Dalesman passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 89.0% vs 77.3%, a 11.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ural Dalesman Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate 89.0% 77.3%
Outright fail rate 4.5% 14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +3.4 pts -6.1 pts
Engine size 749cc 599cc
Rank among all models #1269 of 5428 #4013 of 5428
Median miles at test 12,646 21,080
MOT tests analysed 1,072 143,023
Most common failure lighting and signalling 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.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Ural Dalesman Suzuki GSF600
Lights & signalling 1.9% 6.7%
Brakes 1.3% 6.1%
Steering & suspension 1.3% 3.6%
Tyres & wheels 1.4% 3.3%
Structure & body 0.4% 1.5%
Drive system 0% 1.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0% 1.2%

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 Ural Dalesman Suzuki GSF600
2017 90.3% 77.0%
2018 92.2% 77.7%
2019 81.1% 76.7%
2020 88.1% 77.8%
2021 90.4% 76.8%
2022 84.9% 78.1%
2023 97.8% 78.2%
2025 97.4% 79.6%

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 Ural Dalesman Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles 89.7% 86.8%
10k-20k miles 86.8% 80.1%
20k-30k miles 93.0% 75.2%
30k-40k miles 91.3% 71.3%
40k-50k miles 87.8% 69.4%

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

Ural Dalesman vs Suzuki GSF600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ural Dalesman or the Suzuki GSF600?

The Ural Dalesman passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 89.0% vs 77.3%, a 11.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Ural Dalesman still comes out ahead: +3.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Ural Dalesman, -6.1 for the Suzuki GSF600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Ural Dalesman fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.9% of Ural Dalesman MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (1.4%).

What does the Suzuki GSF600 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.7% of Suzuki GSF600 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (6.1%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Ural Dalesman or the Suzuki GSF600?

At 40k-50k miles the Ural Dalesman passes first time more often: 87.8% for the Ural Dalesman vs 69.4% for the Suzuki GSF600.

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