SUZUKI GS550

549cc Petrol Class 2

#4012 of 5426 overall #558 of 680 SUZUKIs #2539 of 2787 other bikes

77.3%

first-time pass rate

14.1%

failed outright

29,795

median miles at test

4,838

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GS550's first-time pass rate has risen 5.1 points since 2005, 73.2% to 78.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS550 passes first time 77.4% of the time; by 50k that's 74.4%.

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 GS550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	522	28.9	1.5×
brakes	412	22.8	1.4×
steering and suspension	369	20.4	1.8×
tyres and wheels	111	6.1	1.0×
drive system	101	5.6	2.2×
fuel and exhaust	76	4.2	1.8×
body and structure	73	4	2.3×
reg plates and vin	60	3.3	1.9×
lamps and reflectors	49	2.7	0.4×
driving controls	32	1.8	2.8×

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 GS550 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 SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 GS550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (83.9% pass). Weakest: 1983 (74.5%).

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 GS550 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS550 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS550 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.3% of its 4,838 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4012 of 5426 models.

What does a GS550 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed GS550 tests.

What is the best year of GS550 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1985-registered examples do best (83.9%) and 1983 worst (74.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS550 last?

The median GS550 shows 29,795 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 74.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.