SUZUKI DR600

589cc Petrol Class 2

#4012 of 5426 overall #558 of 680 SUZUKIs #2539 of 2787 other bikes

77.3%

first-time pass rate

12.7%

failed outright

37,037

median miles at test

1,266

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The DR600's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2005 (86.5% → 86.8%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the DR600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DR600 passes first time 69.4% of the time; by 50k that's 76.1%.

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 DR600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	183	37.3	1.9×
brakes	94	19.1	1.2×
steering and suspension	83	16.9	1.6×
tyres and wheels	33	6.7	1.0×
drive system	28	5.7	2.2×
lamps and reflectors	21	4.3	0.5×
reg plates and vin	16	3.3	2.2×
fuel and exhaust	15	3.1	1.5×
body and structure	13	2.6	1.8×
driving controls	5	1	1.7×

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 DR600 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 DR600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1989 (87.3% pass). Weakest: 1987 (68.4%).

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 DR600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DR600 reliable?

The SUZUKI DR600 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.3% of its 1,266 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4012 of 5426 models.

What does a DR600 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed DR600 tests.

What is the best year of DR600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1989-registered examples do best (87.3%) and 1987 worst (68.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DR600 last?

The median DR600 shows 37,037 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 76.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.