Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA motorcycles pass the MOT 92.8% of the time, measured across 250 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.8% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 5.9 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 92.8% 232 of 250

Fixed at the station 4.8% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 6,324 miles

Average age at test 5.28 years old

Engine 999cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with too low - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and seriously damaged, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 6,324 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
3-5 years	92.16%		204
6-10 years	95.65%		46

Why the Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Too low	100%	8
2	Missing	83.3%	5
3	Seriously damaged	50%	3
4	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	33.3%	2
5	Excessively tight	16.7%	1
6	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	16.7%	1
7	Not working	16.7%	1

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	4%	10
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.6%	9
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.6%	4
4	Excessively binding	0.8%	2
5	Excessively tight	0.8%	2
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	0.8%	2
7	Tread not clearly visible	0.8%	2
8	Has an excessively worn bush	0.4%	1
9	Insecure	0.4%	1
10	Seriously damaged	0.4%	1

Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA for sale

No Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA in stock at the moment - 529 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA Used Suzuki All Suzuki Suzuki MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA?+

92.8% of Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA MOT tests end in a pass, based on 250 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA?+

Too low, which appears in 100% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Suzuki GSXS 1000 S KATANA get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 95.65%, against 92.16% for examples 3-5 years old.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.