SUZUKI DR400

396cc Petrol Class 2

#3751 of 5426 overall #513 of 680 SUZUKIs #2385 of 2787 other bikes

79.1%

first-time pass rate

11.5%

failed outright

7,104

median miles at test

1,141

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2020

The DR400's first-time pass rate has risen 3.7 points since 2006, 79.6% to 83.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DR400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DR400 passes first time 79.5% of the time; by 30k that's 78.6%.

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 DR400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	153	41.4	1.8×
steering and suspension	66	17.8	1.2×
tyres and wheels	53	14.3	1.6×
brakes	34	9.2	0.7×
drive system	18	4.9	1.6×
reg plates and vin	17	4.6	2.3×
fuel and exhaust	15	4.1	1.6×
body and structure	8	2.2	1.3×
structure and attachments	3	0.8	0.4×
audible warning (Horn)	3	0.8	1.4×

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 DR400 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 DR400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (84.6% pass). Weakest: 2000 (71.2%).

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 DR400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DR400 reliable?

The SUZUKI DR400 is less reliable than average for its class: 79.1% of its 1,141 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3751 of 5426 models.

What does a DR400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 41% of all defects recorded against failed DR400 tests.

What is the best year of DR400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (84.6%) and 2000 worst (71.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DR400 last?

The median DR400 shows 7,104 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 78.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.