SUZUKI GS500F

487cc Petrol Class 2

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

80.9%

first-time pass rate

11.1%

failed outright

11,921

median miles at test

2,283

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The GS500F's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.7 points since 2008, 89.9% to 77.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS500F's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS500F passes first time 86.1% of the time; by 50k that's 82.1%.

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 GS500F

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	144	28.1	1.2×
lighting and signalling	91	17.7	0.8×
steering and suspension	66	12.9	0.8×
tyres and wheels	63	12.3	1.2×
drive system	55	10.7	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	31	6	0.7×
suspension	23	4.5	1.1×
structure and attachments	23	4.5	1.1×
tyres	11	2.1	0.7×
body and structure	6	1.2	0.5×

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 GS500F 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 GS500F.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (84.6% pass). Weakest: 2005 (77.9%).

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 GS500F FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS500F reliable?

The SUZUKI GS500F is less reliable than average for its class: 80.9% of its 2,283 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3399 of 5426 models.

What does a GS500F fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 28% of all defects recorded against failed GS500F tests.

What is the best year of GS500F to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (84.6%) and 2005 worst (77.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS500F last?

The median GS500F shows 11,921 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.