SUZUKI GS 500 FK7

487cc Petrol Class 2

#2835 of 5426 overall #354 of 680 SUZUKIs #1790 of 2787 other bikes

83.6%

first-time pass rate

8.7%

failed outright

12,970

median miles at test

755

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2023

The GS 500 FK7's first-time pass rate has risen 4.8 points since 2011, 85.5% to 90.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS 500 FK7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS 500 FK7 passes first time 89.9% of the time; by 30k that's 80.6%.

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 FK7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	31	23	0.7×
lighting and signalling	25	18.5	0.7×
tyres and wheels	24	17.8	1.3×
steering and suspension	12	8.9	0.5×
drive system	11	8.1	1.7×
lamps and reflectors	11	8.1	0.6×
structure and attachments	7	5.2	1.2×
steering	6	4.4	1.3×
tyres	5	3.7	1.0×
suspension	3	2.2	0.4×

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 FK7 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 FK7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (86.0% pass). Weakest: 2008 (82.8%).

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 FK7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS 500 FK7 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS 500 FK7 is about average for its class: 83.6% of its 755 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2835 of 5426 models.

What does a GS 500 FK7 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 23% of all defects recorded against failed GS 500 FK7 tests.

How many miles will a GS 500 FK7 last?

The median GS 500 FK7 shows 12,970 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 80.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.