SUZUKI DL 1000 K8 GT

996cc Petrol Class 2

#1986 of 5426 overall #234 of 680 SUZUKIs #1204 of 2787 other bikes

86.7%

first-time pass rate

7.8%

failed outright

20,882

median miles at test

731

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2023

The DL 1000 K8 GT's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.0 points since 2011, 91.2% to 89.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DL 1000 K8 GT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DL 1000 K8 GT passes first time 86.7% of the time; by 40k that's 81.4%.

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 K8 GT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	24	26.4	0.5×
tyres and wheels	18	19.8	1.1×
steering and suspension	15	16.5	0.7×
lighting and signalling	9	9.9	0.2×
drive system	9	9.9	1.5×
suspension	5	5.5	0.9×
lamps and reflectors	4	4.4	0.2×
reg plates and vin	3	3.3	0.5×
steering	2	2.2	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	2	2.2	0.4×

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 K8 GT beats 2 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 K8 GT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (87.1% pass). Weakest: 2008 (87.1%).

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 K8 GT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DL 1000 K8 GT reliable?

The SUZUKI DL 1000 K8 GT is about average for its class: 86.7% of its 731 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1986 of 5426 models.

What does a DL 1000 K8 GT fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed DL 1000 K8 GT tests.

How many miles will a DL 1000 K8 GT last?

The median DL 1000 K8 GT shows 20,882 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 81.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.