SUZUKI GS 500 K5

487cc Petrol Class 2

#3420 of 5426 overall #465 of 680 SUZUKIs #2183 of 2787 other bikes

80.8%

first-time pass rate

10.7%

failed outright

16,992

median miles at test

1,422

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2023

The GS 500 K5's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.6 points since 2008, 84.1% to 79.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS 500 K5's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS 500 K5 passes first time 88.4% of the time; by 50k that's 75.0%.

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 K5

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	87	26.1	1.1×
steering and suspension	52	15.6	1.0×
lighting and signalling	48	14.4	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	38	11.4	0.9×
drive system	28	8.4	1.8×
suspension	22	6.6	1.7×
tyres and wheels	21	6.3	0.6×
structure and attachments	19	5.7	1.3×
tyres	12	3.6	1.1×
steering	6	1.8	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 500 K5 beats 2 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 K5.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (85.3% pass). Weakest: 2006 (75.7%).

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.

SUZUKI GS 500 K5 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS 500 K5 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS 500 K5 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.8% of its 1,422 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3420 of 5426 models.

What does a GS 500 K5 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed GS 500 K5 tests.

What is the best year of GS 500 K5 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (85.3%) and 2006 worst (75.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS 500 K5 last?

The median GS 500 K5 shows 16,992 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.