SUZUKI GS

650cc Petrol Class 2

#4230 of 5426 overall #591 of 680 SUZUKIs #2628 of 2787 other bikes

75.6%

first-time pass rate

15.1%

failed outright

29,102

median miles at test

3,408

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GS's first-time pass rate has risen 6.6 points since 2005, 75.9% to 82.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GS passes first time 74.8% of the time; by 50k that's 73.7%.

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 GS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	342	25.8	1.6×
brakes	338	25.5	1.5×
steering and suspension	244	18.4	1.7×
tyres and wheels	126	9.5	1.6×
drive system	69	5.2	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	59	4.4	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	52	3.9	1.8×
body and structure	41	3.1	2.2×
reg plates and vin	29	2.2	1.3×
structure and attachments	28	2.1	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 GS 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 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 GS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (87.4% pass). Weakest: 1989 (52.9%).

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 GS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS reliable?

The SUZUKI GS is less reliable than average for its class: 75.6% of its 3,408 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4230 of 5426 models.

What does a GS fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed GS tests.

What is the best year of GS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1983-registered examples do best (87.4%) and 1989 worst (52.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS last?

The median GS shows 29,102 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.