SUZUKI GS500K2

487cc Petrol Class 2

#2593 of 5426 overall #317 of 680 SUZUKIs #1632 of 2787 other bikes

84.6%

first-time pass rate

9.6%

failed outright

16,639

median miles at test

534

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The GS500K2's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.9 points since 2006, 90.9% to 81.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS500K2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS500K2 passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 30k that's 82.5%.

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 GS500K2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	24	22.4	0.5×
brakes	24	22.4	0.8×
steering and suspension	19	17.8	0.8×
tyres and wheels	18	16.8	1.6×
drive system	10	9.3	1.8×
lamps and reflectors	3	2.8	0.4×
suspension	3	2.8	0.8×
structure and attachments	3	2.8	0.3×
tyres	2	1.9	0.5×
reg plates and vin	1	0.9	0.3×

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 GS500K2 beats 3 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 GS500K2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (87.3% pass). Weakest: 2002 (80.1%).

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 GS500K2 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS500K2 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS500K2 is about average for its class: 84.6% of its 534 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2593 of 5426 models.

What does a GS500K2 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 22% of all defects recorded against failed GS500K2 tests.

How many miles will a GS500K2 last?

The median GS500K2 shows 16,639 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 82.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.