SUZUKI GS500

487cc Petrol Class 2

#4134 of 5426 overall #578 of 680 SUZUKIs #2592 of 2787 other bikes

76.4%

first-time pass rate

15.0%

failed outright

21,676

median miles at test

44.9k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The GS500's first-time pass rate has risen 5.5 points since 2005, 76.0% to 81.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS500 passes first time 86.4% of the time; by 50k that's 68.8%.

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 GS500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	4,010	26.4	1.5×
steering and suspension	3,617	23.8	2.0×
lighting and signalling	2,990	19.7	1.2×
tyres and wheels	1,549	10.2	1.5×
drive system	1,198	7.9	2.7×
lamps and reflectors	551	3.6	0.5×
suspension	371	2.4	0.9×
structure and attachments	350	2.3	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	328	2.2	0.9×
body and structure	250	1.6	1.0×

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 GS500 beats 0 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 GS500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (81.1% pass). Weakest: 1993 (68.1%).

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 GS500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS500 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS500 is less reliable than average for its class: 76.4% of its 44,924 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4134 of 5426 models.

What does a GS500 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed GS500 tests.

What is the best year of GS500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (81.1%) and 1993 worst (68.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS500 last?

The median GS500 shows 21,676 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 68.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.