SUZUKI GS500E

487cc Petrol Class 2

#4531 of 5426 overall #621 of 680 SUZUKIs #2744 of 2787 other bikes

72.6%

first-time pass rate

18.1%

failed outright

26,276

median miles at test

2,169

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The GS500E's first-time pass rate has risen 18.2 points since 2005, 68.6% to 86.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS500E's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS500E passes first time 86.9% of the time; by 50k that's 65.8%.

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 GS500E

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	298	29.7	2.1×
steering and suspension	237	23.6	2.6×
lighting and signalling	218	21.7	1.7×
tyres and wheels	94	9.4	1.8×
drive system	63	6.3	3.2×
lamps and reflectors	25	2.5	0.6×
suspension	20	2	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	18	1.8	1.1×
structure and attachments	16	1.6	1.0×
reg plates and vin	14	1.4	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 GS500E 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 GS500E.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (82.4% pass). Weakest: 1991 (63.5%).

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 GS500E FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS500E reliable?

The SUZUKI GS500E is less reliable than average for its class: 72.6% of its 2,169 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4531 of 5426 models.

What does a GS500E fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 30% of all defects recorded against failed GS500E tests.

What is the best year of GS500E to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (82.4%) and 1991 worst (63.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS500E last?

The median GS500E shows 26,276 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 65.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.