The picture
Gsx1300r: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,846 MOT tests, the Gsx1300r returns 90.0% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A non-functioning shock absorber and a stop-lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 26,832, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
14 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 02
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
11 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 03
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 04
Audible warning not working
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 05
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 07
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
Projected beam image is obviously incorrect
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£68–£130
If every one of this Gsx1300r's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Gsx1300r?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Gsx1300r and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.