SUZUKI GS 500 EX

487cc Petrol Class 2

#4134 of 5426 overall #578 of 680 SUZUKIs #2592 of 2787 other bikes

76.4%

first-time pass rate

15.6%

failed outright

19,822

median miles at test

436

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The GS 500 EX's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.5 points since 2006, 73.1% to 63.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GS 500 EX passes first time 93.1% of the time; by 40k that's 81.1%.

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 GS 500 EX

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	39	26
brakes	37	24.7
lighting and signalling	24	16
drive system	10	6.7
lamps and reflectors	9	6
tyres and wheels	8	5.3
suspension	8	5.3
tyres	6	4
steering	5	3.3
body and structure	4	2.7

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 EX 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 EX.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (80.0% pass). Weakest: 1999 (75.1%).

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.