SUZUKI DR650

644cc Petrol Class 2

#3770 of 5426 overall #520 of 680 SUZUKIs #2396 of 2787 other bikes

79.0%

first-time pass rate

12.5%

failed outright

22,184

median miles at test

4,011

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The DR650's first-time pass rate has risen 14.7 points since 2005, 75.0% to 89.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DR650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DR650 passes first time 84.5% of the time; by 50k that's 74.1%.

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 DR650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	366	30.8	1.4×
brakes	286	24.1	1.2×
steering and suspension	197	16.6	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	78	6.6	0.9×
tyres and wheels	77	6.5	0.9×
drive system	54	4.5	1.5×
reg plates and vin	52	4.4	1.7×
fuel and exhaust	30	2.5	0.9×
suspension	25	2.1	0.7×
structure and attachments	24	2	0.8×

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 DR650 beats 2 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 DR650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (86.0% pass). Weakest: 1994 (73.2%).

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 DR650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DR650 reliable?

The SUZUKI DR650 is less reliable than average for its class: 79.0% of its 4,011 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3770 of 5426 models.

What does a DR650 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed DR650 tests.

What is the best year of DR650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (86.0%) and 1994 worst (73.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DR650 last?

The median DR650 shows 22,184 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 74.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.