SUZUKI GS 500 FK6

487cc Petrol Class 2

#2909 of 5426 overall #364 of 680 SUZUKIs #1836 of 2787 other bikes

83.2%

first-time pass rate

10.9%

failed outright

14,280

median miles at test

606

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2019

The GS 500 FK6's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.2 points since 2009, 90.6% to 79.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS 500 FK6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS 500 FK6 passes first time 90.6% of the time; by 30k that's 62.8%.

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 FK6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	31	24	0.9×
suspension	20	15.5	3.4×
tyres and wheels	20	15.5	1.2×
lighting and signalling	15	11.6	0.5×
steering and suspension	11	8.5	0.5×
structure and attachments	9	7	1.9×
drive system	9	7	1.6×
lamps and reflectors	5	3.9	0.5×
tyres	5	3.9	1.2×
steering	4	3.1	1.6×

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 500 FK6 beats 3 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 FK6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (83.2% pass). Weakest: 2007 (82.5%).

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 500 FK6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS 500 FK6 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS 500 FK6 is about average for its class: 83.2% of its 606 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2909 of 5426 models.

What does a GS 500 FK6 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 24% of all defects recorded against failed GS 500 FK6 tests.

How many miles will a GS 500 FK6 last?

The median GS 500 FK6 shows 14,280 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 62.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.