SUZUKI DL 1000 AL8 ABS

1037cc Petrol Class 2

#222 of 5426 overall #25 of 680 SUZUKIs #136 of 2787 other bikes

93.6%

first-time pass rate

2.9%

failed outright

10,390

median miles at test

3,036

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2020–2025

The DL 1000 AL8 ABS's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.0 points since 2020, 96.0% to 94.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DL 1000 AL8 ABS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DL 1000 AL8 ABS passes first time 96.8% of the time; by 30k that's 76.8%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a DL 1000 AL8 ABS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	42	28.4	0.8×
brakes	42	28.4	0.2×
tyres	22	14.9	1.0×
suspension	15	10.1	0.6×
structure and attachments	10	6.8	0.4×
audible warning (Horn)	7	4.7	1.3×
steering	5	3.4	0.4×
wheels	4	2.7	2.2×
Identification of the vehicle	1	0.7	0.1×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the DL 1000 AL8 ABS beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the DL 1000 AL8 ABS.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2019 (95.0% pass). Weakest: 2018 (93.2%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

SUZUKI DL 1000 AL8 ABS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DL 1000 AL8 ABS reliable?

The SUZUKI DL 1000 AL8 ABS is more reliable than average for its class: 93.6% of its 3,036 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #222 of 5426 models.

What does a DL 1000 AL8 ABS fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 28% of all defects recorded against failed DL 1000 AL8 ABS tests.

What is the best year of DL 1000 AL8 ABS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2019-registered examples do best (95.0%) and 2018 worst (93.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DL 1000 AL8 ABS last?

The median DL 1000 AL8 ABS shows 10,390 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 76.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.