SUZUKI GS 500 EW

487cc Petrol Class 2

#4370 of 5426 overall #602 of 680 SUZUKIs #2690 of 2787 other bikes

74.3%

first-time pass rate

14.7%

failed outright

21,939

median miles at test

339

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2008

The GS 500 EW's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.2 points since 2006, 76.1% to 73.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS 500 EW's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS 500 EW passes first time 76.5% of the time; by 30k that's 72.5%.

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 GS 500 EW

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	27	27.8
lighting and signalling	22	22.7
brakes	17	17.5
tyres and wheels	12	12.4
drive system	7	7.2
fuel and exhaust	5	5.2
lamps and reflectors	2	2.1
driving controls	2	2.1
body and structure	2	2.1
Identification of the vehicle	1	1

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GS 500 EW 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 YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k 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 500 EW.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (75.2% pass). Weakest: 1998 (72.7%).

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.