SUZUKI GS 500 K7

487cc Petrol Class 2

#3577 of 5426 overall #491 of 680 SUZUKIs #2275 of 2787 other bikes

80.0%

first-time pass rate

11.4%

failed outright

18,697

median miles at test

1,352

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2025

The GS 500 K7's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2011 (81.2% → 80.5%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS 500 K7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS 500 K7 passes first time 89.8% of the time; by 50k that's 84.8%.

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 K7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	87	26.2	1.1×
steering and suspension	41	12.3	0.8×
lighting and signalling	41	12.3	0.6×
tyres and wheels	40	12	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	35	10.5	0.9×
structure and attachments	23	6.9	2.1×
suspension	20	6	1.5×
drive system	18	5.4	1.6×
steering	17	5.1	2.5×
tyres	10	3	0.9×

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 K7 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 K7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (80.2% pass). Weakest: 2007 (78.8%).

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 K7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS 500 K7 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS 500 K7 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.0% of its 1,352 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3577 of 5426 models.

What does a GS 500 K7 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed GS 500 K7 tests.

How many miles will a GS 500 K7 last?

The median GS 500 K7 shows 18,697 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.