SUZUKI GS 500 K6

487cc Petrol Class 2

#3270 of 5426 overall #437 of 680 SUZUKIs #2081 of 2787 other bikes

81.5%

first-time pass rate

10.0%

failed outright

16,647

median miles at test

627

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2017

The GS 500 K6's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.1 points since 2010, 79.4% to 76.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS 500 K6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS 500 K6 passes first time 87.4% of the time; by 30k that's 78.3%.

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 K6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	35	30.7	1.0×
steering and suspension	18	15.8	0.8×
tyres and wheels	15	13.2	1.1×
lighting and signalling	14	12.3	0.4×
drive system	9	7.9	2.0×
suspension	6	5.3	1.3×
structure and attachments	5	4.4	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	5	4.4	0.5×
tyres	4	3.5	0.9×
steering	3	2.6	1.2×

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 K6 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 K6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (83.6% pass). Weakest: 2006 (79.0%).

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 K6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS 500 K6 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS 500 K6 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.5% of its 627 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3270 of 5426 models.

What does a GS 500 K6 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 31% of all defects recorded against failed GS 500 K6 tests.

How many miles will a GS 500 K6 last?

The median GS 500 K6 shows 16,647 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 78.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.