BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ SUZUKI/DL 650 X AL8
Model report · 2005–2025

SUZUKI DL 650 X AL8

645cc Petrol Class 2
92.8%
first-time pass rate
3.0%
failed outright
10,309
median miles at test
600
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The DL 650 X AL8's first-time pass rate has risen 1.6 points since 2021, 93.9% to 95.5%.

88%92%97%2021: 93.9% pass (114 tests)2022: 91.9% pass (135 tests)2023: 93.4% pass (137 tests)2024: 89.1% pass (101 tests)2025: 95.5% pass (112 tests)20212025

Pass rate by mileage

how the DL 650 X AL8's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DL 650 X AL8 passes first time 95.2% of the time; by 20k that's 86.9%.

85%91%97%0k: 95.2% pass (293 tests)10k: 91.8% pass (231 tests)20k: 86.9% pass (61 tests)0k10k20k

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 650 X AL8

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
8 29.6 0.2×
lamps and reflectors
8 29.6 0.7×
structure and attachments
6 22.2 1.2×
tyres
3 11.1 0.7×
suspension
2 7.4 0.5×

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 650 X AL8 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

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 650 X AL8.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (93.5% pass). Weakest: 2019 (89.2%).

88%91%94%2018: 93.5% pass (504 tests)2019: 89.2% pass (93 tests)20182019

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 650 X AL8 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DL 650 X AL8 reliable?

The SUZUKI DL 650 X AL8 is more reliable than average for its class: 92.8% of its 600 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #330 of 5426 models.

What does a DL 650 X AL8 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 30% of all defects recorded against failed DL 650 X AL8 tests.

How many miles will a DL 650 X AL8 last?

The median DL 650 X AL8 shows 10,309 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 86.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.