SUZUKI GS400

399cc Petrol Class 2

#3399 of 5426 overall #459 of 680 SUZUKIs #2170 of 2787 other bikes

80.9%

first-time pass rate

13.0%

failed outright

28,876

median miles at test

523

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2016

The GS400's first-time pass rate has risen 3.6 points since 2006, 74.5% to 78.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS400 passes first time 78.0% of the time; by 50k that's 78.0%.

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 GS400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	35	24.1	1.1×
brakes	32	22.1	1.1×
steering and suspension	29	20	1.6×
drive system	17	11.7	3.7×
tyres and wheels	14	9.7	1.2×
fuel and exhaust	6	4.1	1.5×
suspension	5	3.4	1.0×
body and structure	3	2.1	1.2×
steering	2	1.4	0.5×
reg plates and vin	2	1.4	0.7×

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 GS400 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 GS400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1978 (90.1% pass). Weakest: 1977 (80.0%).

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 GS400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS400 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS400 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.9% of its 523 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3399 of 5426 models.

What does a GS400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 24% of all defects recorded against failed GS400 tests.

How many miles will a GS400 last?

The median GS400 shows 28,876 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.