BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Yamaha Tracer 900/vs Suzuki GSF600
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Yamaha Tracer 900 vs Suzuki GSF600

The Yamaha Tracer 900 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 95.5% vs 77.3%, a 18.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Yamaha Tracer 900 Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate 95.5% 77.3%
Outright fail rate 2.1% 14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +7.7 pts -6.1 pts
Engine size 847cc 599cc
Rank among all models #46 of 5428 #4013 of 5428
Median miles at test 9,084 21,080
MOT tests analysed 9,812 143,023
Most common failure tyres 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 Yamaha Tracer 900 Suzuki GSF600
Lights & signalling 0.6% 6.7%
Brakes 0.5% 6.1%
Tyres & wheels 0.7% 3.3%
Steering & suspension 0.3% 3.6%
Structure & body 0.3% 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 Yamaha Tracer 900 Suzuki GSF600
2021 96.1% 76.8%
2022 95.3% 78.1%
2023 95.4% 78.2%
2024 95.8% 78.9%
2025 95.2% 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 Yamaha Tracer 900 Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles 96.9% 86.8%
10k-20k miles 94.7% 80.1%
20k-30k miles 92.1% 75.2%
30k-40k miles 87.1% 71.3%
40k-50k miles 80.7% 69.4%

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

Yamaha Tracer 900 vs Suzuki GSF600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Yamaha Tracer 900 or the Suzuki GSF600?

The Yamaha Tracer 900 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 95.5% vs 77.3%, a 18.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha Tracer 900 still comes out ahead: +7.7 points vs comparable bikes for the Yamaha Tracer 900, -6.1 for the Suzuki GSF600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Yamaha Tracer 900 fail its MOT on most?

Tyres & wheels: 0.7% of Yamaha Tracer 900 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (0.6%).

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 Yamaha Tracer 900 or the Suzuki GSF600?

At 40k-50k miles the Yamaha Tracer 900 passes first time more often: 80.7% for the Yamaha Tracer 900 vs 69.4% for the Suzuki GSF600.

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