SUZUKI DRZ 400 SM K5

398cc Petrol Class 2

#3291 of 5426 overall #445 of 680 SUZUKIs #2095 of 2787 other bikes

81.4%

first-time pass rate

8.6%

failed outright

9,250

median miles at test

1,738

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The DRZ 400 SM K5's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.3 points since 2008, 88.3% to 86.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DRZ 400 SM K5's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DRZ 400 SM K5 passes first time 85.0% of the time; by 30k that's 75.5%.

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 DRZ 400 SM K5

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	112	32.2	0.9×
brakes	58	16.7	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	40	11.5	1.0×
tyres and wheels	36	10.3	1.0×
reg plates and vin	27	7.8	2.2×
steering and suspension	21	6	0.3×
drive system	18	5.2	1.1×
structure and attachments	15	4.3	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	13	3.7	0.9×
suspension	8	2.3	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 DRZ 400 SM K5 beats 3 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 DRZ 400 SM K5.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (81.2% pass). Weakest: 2006 (81.0%).

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 DRZ 400 SM K5 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI DRZ 400 SM K5 reliable?

The SUZUKI DRZ 400 SM K5 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.4% of its 1,738 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3291 of 5426 models.

What does a DRZ 400 SM K5 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed DRZ 400 SM K5 tests.

How many miles will a DRZ 400 SM K5 last?

The median DRZ 400 SM K5 shows 9,250 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 75.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.