Suzuki RF900R MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki RF900R motorcycles pass the MOT 83.74% of the time, measured across 203 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.93% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 3.1 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 83.74% 170 of 203

Fixed at the station 4.93% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 32,775 miles

Average age at test 28.33 years old

Engine 936cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki RF900R adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 56.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and has insufficient reserve travel, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (8.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 32,775 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
16+ years	83.66%		202

Why the Suzuki RF900R 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	Not working	56.5%	13
2	Has a serious fluid leak	26.1%	6
3	Has insufficient reserve travel	17.4%	4
4	Insecure	13%	3
5	Contaminated	8.7%	2
6	Excessively stiff or notchy	8.7%	2
7	Fluid level below minimum level	8.7%	2
8	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	8.7%	2
9	Seriously damaged	8.7%	2
10	Too low	8.7%	2

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	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	8.9%	18
2	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	5.4%	11
3	Has a serious fluid leak	4.9%	10
4	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.9%	8
5	Excessively loose	3%	6
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3%	6
7	Component pin or bush excessively worn	2%	4
8	Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied	2%	4
9	Excessively binding	1.5%	3
10	Excessively tight	1.5%	3

Suzuki RF900R for sale

No Suzuki RF900R in stock at the moment - 528 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki RF900R 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 R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

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

Suzuki RF900R MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki RF900R?+

83.74% of Suzuki RF900R MOT tests end in a pass, based on 203 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki RF900R?+

Not working, which appears in 56.5% of failed tests on this model.

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.